Life After Fibroids: How Sasha Found Relief Without Major Surgery

Sasha Pusey is grateful she sought a second opinion at Cleveland Clinic in Florida. Her quality of life has been restored, and she was spared a life-altering surgery.

Sasha, 40, of Miami, was diagnosed with uterine fibroids (common noncancerous tumors in the uterus) in 2025 and told she would need to have a hysterectomy (a surgical procedure to remove the uterus). Though she says she does not plan to have more children (she has a 15-year-old son), she felt uncomfortable with the finality of the procedure and wanted more options.

“I was not sold on having a hysterectomy,” Sasha says. “I needed to get a second opinion.”

She got that second opinion in a consultation with Krinna Patel, PA-C, a physician assistant at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital. After an examination, Krinna suggested Sasha consider fibroid radiofrequency ablation (RFA) instead. RFA is a safe and effective treatment that uses microwave energy (heat) to treat uterine fibroids. It’s recommended for people who haven’t reached menopause and have smaller fibroids.

Sasha was very happy. Not only could she avoid having a hysterectomy, but she would also no longer have to deal with the heavy menstrual periods caused by the fibroids. The heavy bleeding she experienced each month took a toll on her quality of life. She is an avid exerciser and a school bus driver.

Tarangi Sutaria, MD, the gynecologic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Weston Hospital who would be performing the ablation, advised Sasha to have iron infusions to treat the severe anemia (low level of healthy red blood cells) she had because of the heavy bleeding prior to the surgery.

“Cleveland Clinic is the best in regard to treating you like a person, not a number.”

Sasha was impressed by Dr. Sutaria’s level of care.

“She was very personable,” she says. “Even during the infusions, she would follow up with me to see how it was going.”

When Sasha’s surgery, which was scheduled for November of 2025, had to be postponed because she got sick, she was impressed again with how caring the staff was in rescheduling the procedure.

“Cleveland Clinic is the best in regard to treating you like a person, not a number,” she says. “I was sad to not be able to have the procedure that day, but I really appreciated the care they showed me.”

Sasha was able to have the procedure in February, which she says went very well.

“Everything was seamless, on-time and very professional,” she says. “Every person who was going to take care of me came and spoke to me and explained what they were doing and why. That is so helpful, especially when you are nervous.”

She was able to go home the same day as the procedure, which was a Thursday, and go back to work on Monday.

With the fibroids gone, her symptoms are gone and her quality of life is back.

“I feel like I’ve regained myself,” Sasha says.