Patient Stories

The Fibroid Treatment Collaborative is dedicated to the comprehensive multi-disciplinary approach to the management of uterine fibroids, pelvic pain, endometriosis, and uro-gynecologic conditions.  The fact is that your situation is unique and deserves an individualized treatment plan. Located in Chicago, Illinois and Austin, Texas, we are minimally invasive gynecologic surgeons, radiologists, pain specialists, reproductive endocrinologists and physical therapists working in collaboration to plan your treatment.  We offer a personal treatment plan that takes into account the patient's personal preferences.  Click Here To learn more about our center.

Dr. Shashoua performed my daVinci hysterectomy on June 22nd and I highly recommend Dr. Shashoua and this procedure. Three weeks after the surgery I was walking, biking, back at work and enjoying life. (Of course, no sex or heavy lifting for several more weeks). I must confess to feeling practically euphoric that I no longer have fibroids, a uterus, or a period at all. I don't want to underestimate the importance of making the decision to have a hysterectomy. I had very large fibroids that were causing severe hemmorrhaging off and on over several years but I resisted a hysterectomy because, although I was certain I did not want children, I was frightened of having an organ removed from my body. Then I ended up in the emergency room getting a four bag blood transfusion and it was there that I met Dr. Shashoua. From the beginning Dr. Shashoua was very open and straightforward, he clarified my situation and presented several options. I gave it some thought and it became clear that what I wanted was a hysterectomy. My husband was included in all of the proceedings and we both felt confident and optimistic heading toward the big day. It didn't hurt that almost every female I encountered throughout the process (some who had dealt with fibroid issues of their own) had nothing but glowing praise for Dr. Shashoua. All throughout my experience from the emergency room encounter to the office visits and then to Advocate IL Masonic to have the surgery I was treated with respect and courtesy and transparency. I won't go so far as to say it was a "fun" experience but it was a time I will remember as the fortunate moment that I decided to take control of my life and to stop the nightmare that living with my fibroids had become. Thank you Dr. Shashoua, from me, my husband, my mom, and the rest of my family and friends who were kind enough to worry about me. And to anyone out there reading this website as I did when I was making my decision - the daVinci hysterectomy was a very manageable experience in every way. Dr. Shashoua is an excellent doctor. My health and my quality of life has improved dramatically.

--SJ, Chicago, Illinois

It has been a pleasure receiving services from Dr. Shashoua and his team at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center I had the best team. I could not take it anymore due to my fibroids and the gynecologist that I was working with at that time told me that she was not going to deal with them and she put me on birth control in spite of me bleeding and in pain daily. I was looking up fibroid treatment on the internet and found a website for fibroids and email for help I was amazed within 10 minutes Dr. Shashoua called me. I met with him on 04-26-10 he answered all my questions, gave me options and explained everything when I left his office I felt like he was concern about my well-being. I could have gone to any other hospitals because I live in south shore but I chose Illinois Masonic Hospital due to Dr. Shashoua compassion. Dr. Shashoua and his team explained everything to me. I did not have to ask the nurse any questions because all of them was answered. I have worked in medical field for many years and have never seen or heard of a doctor answering all questions.   This is one of Dr. Shashoua strengths.  Dr. Shashoua thank you for helping me, providing excellent care and please continue explaining to all your patients.

TH, Chicago

I have been seeing Dr. G. Shashoua in Austin for about 5 years. He performed my tubal ligation in 2005, an ablation in 2009 and most recently I have had an InterStim implant. I have two raves that I would like to share.

My first is for Dr. Shashoua. When going to an appointment, I do not feel as though I am being rushed in and out of the office.  Dr. Shashoua and the staff at his new office know my name and treat me like a person rather than just a patient.  I feel like I can speak to Dr. Shashoua frankly and can trust he will give me an honest answer to my questions.  I truly feel comfortable and it makes the dreaded annual visit a lot more bearable.

My second rave is the the IterStim implant. I was, on average, going to urinate at least 15 times a day. There were nights where I got up every ten minutes for hours, could not drink tea in a restraunt without a couple of visits to the bathroom and a long car ride was almost impossible.  I tried going on a schedule to retrain my bladder and using medicine to reduce my urges to go, nothing seemed to make much of a difference. After it seemed we had exhausted all other options, Dr. Shashoua suggested that I try the InterStim procedure.  There is not a lot of information from real people on the internet about the InterStim implant , I took a risk on Dr. Shashoua's word and what difference it has made in my life! I walk into work right past the bathroom daily and I sleep through the night. This procedure really worked for me and it is worth investigation for anyone having urinary frequency issues.

Thanks Dr. Shashoua, from an average patient who still dreads her annual but is thankful she chose you.

AB, Austin, Texas

I wrestled with with the decision of whether or how to treat my growing fibroid tumors for months. The tumors were large, but I didn't have any of the debilitating side effects that I know they can cause. However, because I was 47 when they were diagnosed, I figured they had several more years to continue growing and would eventually start to cause problems.

My long-time gyno recommended a myomectomy using standard surgery. I knew I definitely didn't want to sign up for that! A friend recommended I see Dr. Shashoua for a second opinion, so I made an appointment, even though my own doctor had told me my tumors were too large to remove laproscopically.

Well, my long-time doctor was wrong -- after I got a couple of Lupron injections to shrink the tumors, Dr. Shashoua and his team used the fabulous DaVinci Robot to remove the tumors along with my uterus. (I opted for a hysterectomy, mainly because I didn't want a new set of fibroids to appear.)

The surgery went just fine, though the tumors were stlll quite large and apparently took longer than normal to remove. And my recovery has been a breeze. I had a couple of days where I was uncomfortable, but after that I've felt fine.

My one piece of advice for women considering surgery or other treatments is to do some research and, if possible, talk to other women who have already been through what you're facing. I did a lot of web browsing, and I know there are many, many sites and blogs with women's personal experiences with fibroids, hysterectomies, etc. Some of these can be very negative and inaccurate, so do some due diligence to get REAL information to inform your decision and prepare yourself.

I was lucky enough to have 3 friends who have been through similar/identical procedures, who were willing to tell me EVERYTHING they experienced, from post-surgery pain levels, to facing the "anti-hysterectomy" contingent of women, to their experiences with sex after hysterectomies. It was invaluable to get their perspective as patients and know what to expect in the hospital and in the days following.

As a side note, one of my big fears was side effects from the Lupron. I had heard and read horror stories about mood swings, hot flashes, cramps that were so bad the patients could not continue with the treatment--but I didn't experience any of those. I had only two injections, so I may have dodged a bullet there.

I'm really happy with my decision--from finding a specialist who could perform non-invasive surgery (that's Dr. Shashoua), to opting for a hysterectomy. I'm looking forward to a healthy menopause and a healthy life!

JJ Chicago, Illinois

I am very pleased and thankful that I was referred to Dr. George Shashoua who practices in Austin, Texas.  My surgery was a bladder lift and davinci sacrocolpopexy.  Dr. George Shashoua is a brilliant doctor with great expertise and wisdom in his field.  He is also very caring, kind and compassionate. He is a doctor I genuinely trust and have total confidence in. Everything regarding my surgery and recovery went smoothly and remarkably well.  It was and has been a very positive and successful experience.  I feel absolutely great, thanks to God and Dr. Shashoua.

S. G., Austin, Texas

I have struggled with painful intercourse for most, if not all, of my sexual life. It was always such an excruciating experience that usually ended in tears and I thought it was normal for such a long time. For about 15 years I either couldn't explain the pain or I was quickly told to "make sure and use lots of lube" or "maybe my boyfriend is too big" and to try a different position. A few years ago I was sent to physical therapy which helped with some low back muscle spasms, which now I know were caused from my muscle tension due to the vulvar pain, but it didn't help with the burning sensation I was having with every tampon insertion and intercourse. Nearly 2 years ago I met the love of my life and I was finally comfortable talking about the pain. I wasn't enjoying sex and he wasn't enjoying it knowing I was in pain. I knew this was not how it should be, so after about 12 years of not being taken seriously by so many doctors I went on a search and found Dr. Shashoua. From the minute I walked in the door and told him my story, he whipped me into a frenzy of treatment. He finally put a name to my horrible pain...vulvar vestibulitis. At times I questioned him and wondered if his treatments were too drastic but I now know he was giving other treatments a shot before needing to have the ultimate treatment...surgery. I had never heard that. I finally had a vulvar vestibulectomy in January. Funny name but it has changed my life. I can't lie, it was an extremely painful recovery but I wish I would have done it sooner. The first time my boyfriend and I had pain-free sex, I cried - happy tears this time. I can't give Dr. Shashoua all the credit, my physical therapist was key in figuring out my diagnosis. Karen was the first person who pinpointed the exact spot from where my pain was originating. I can't thank both Karen and Dr. Shashoua enough. My surgery was a success! My boyfriend is quite thankful as well!

AR, Chicago

I had a long history of very heavy periods,an array of diagnostic testing and one Dr. visit after another. I was told that I had a cervical myoma.  My doctor @ that time recommended Dr.Shashoua as an expert in this field.  I was very anxious about what would happen next.  Dr.Shashoua reassured me that he would do a cervical myomectomy and an endometrial ablation...I thought a what & a what???  I am  an RN so I tend to get very skeptical and am not easily convinced.  Did I mention I'm on Coumadin???  So that just added more to my fears!!!  I held off for as long as I could until Dr.Shashoua looked straight in to my eyes and said "Shirley you need to get this done, you'll be okay, I'll take care of you and keep you safe the day of your procedure. The procedure was done!!!! I got thru it!!!  Dr.Shashoua called me the very next morning & reassured me that everything went well.  That was almost one year ago....I am doing quite well. The cervical myoma is gone and I rarely get a period anymore.I am very grateful to Dr.Shashoua for his BRILLIANCE,EXPERTISE, and HONESTY. I feel like I have a new lease on life and have eased up on unnecessary worries.  I thank Dr.Shashoua for being the "BEST", for his raw honesty, a very friendly office staff and last but certainly not the least perfoming the by far the best papsmears I've ever experienced in 25 plus years!!! THANK YOU doesn't seem enough but "DR.SHASHOUA THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING"

SL, Chicago

In November 2009, I came to Dr. Shashoua after almost 7 months of continual bleeding and pain. I had just had a hysteroscopy at the end of October and my regular OB/GYN could not remove the fibroid tumor they found. She recommended I see Dr. Shashoua and from the moment I met him, it was if I had finally found a Dr. who understood what I was going through and was going to be able to help me!!
We had originally scheduled surgery for the middle of January, but he reassured me if things were to get worse, I could call the office and they would move up the surgery. Sure enough, about a week later the bleeding had started again and the pain worsened. I called Maggie, his assistant, and within 2 days the surgery was scheduled. (His staff couldn't be any better!!! They are terrific, understanding and compassionate.)
On December 15, 2009 I had a myomectomy procedure done to remove a small, but troublesome fibroid. Instead of the traditional laproscopic procedure, Dr. Shashoua did a less invasive hysteroscopy. The surgery was only about an hour and my symptoms had decreased immediately. I had no incisions!! There was a little cramping, but nothing unbearable. The recovery time was about 2 weeks, but I would do it all over again if I had to.
The first month after the surgery was a little rough, but only because my body was still healing and I think the continual bleeding for almost a year had things a little off balance. My first menstrual cycle was VERY heavy, but after I got through that my second one was much better. I'm now on regular birth control and I have absolutely no bleeding and no issues!! I cannot thank Dr. Shashoua and his staff for everything they've done. I feel like I have a normal life again. He's the only one I will ever go to if I should have any more complications in the future!!! 

RD Chicago

In May 2009, I had a Laproscopic Hysterectomy by the Dr. Abraham Shashoua at Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, IL. I am an R.N. so my evaluation would be critical and my expectations were high. My surgery was uneventful and went very well. It was amazing. I experienced minimal pain with no complications. I highly recommend him to all. I am very pleased with my outcome. He is wonderful, capable, and knowledgeable surgeon. It was an honor and a blessing to entrust my health in his hands. I could go on and on but I won't. IN SHORT, HE'S GREAT.

Joyce C., Chicago

I am a 68 year-old former nurse. Six weeks ago Dr. Shashoua gave me a series of vaginal steroid injections for chronic pain which seemed to originate from two previous vaginal wall repairs, eight and five years ago. I have had five years of pain on sitting, and trying to get comfortable at night.
Other doctors were unable to diagnose my problem or give me pain relief. Pelvic physical therapy was not the answer, either.
Dr. Shashoua has given me a new lease on life.

PK, Southwest Suburbs of Chicago

I wanted to let you know that my husband and I are finally pregnant and I am due in January.  I wanted to write a note to thank you for everything you have done for us.  I feel like you are the person that turned everything around for me.  We felt like we were drowning when we first came to you after I was told by another doctor I had to have my tube removed, but thankfully that was not necessary.  Also, thank you to your staff who were always friendly and helpful. Because of what you have done for me, I get to become a mother and I just can't thank you enough for this gift.

LJ, Park Ridge, IL

In February, 2010, I underwent surgery for bladder prolapse.  Dr. Shashoua used the Davinci Robotic for part of the procedure. My hospital stay was only overnight.  There was no pain postop with minimal discomfort for 2 days. My recovery process was very smooth, quick and a return to work within 3 weeks.
I would highly recommend this surgery and Dr. Shashoua.  He answers all questions, e-mails, and provides pictures for those of us who need visuals.

LM, Chicago

I did not expect to have Dr. Shashoua as my doctor when I developed trouble with my fibroids.  I startied to bleed on birth control and didn't know why. I needed a doctor quickly and I called his office. Luckily they put me as a new patient right away.  On my first day of meeting he told me that I had many options.  We discussed these options and I chose to have a hysterectomy.  At first I was hesitant because I thought that it wouldl take a while to recover.  He recommended a laparoscopic hysterectomy.   I am so happy to be one of his patients and he has helped me solve my problem. Surgery went well and I am back to normal.  I was back to work after a month and working out again as if nothing happened.

SMB, Chicago

Dr. Shashoua, Thank you for all of your help and care while I was in the hospital.  I really appreciate you taking the time to check in on me and making sure I was taken care of properly.  I am feeling much better, and I am so thankful to have been treated so wonderfully.  Your care and generosity helped me.  Thank you so much.

EF, Chicago

Dear Dr. Shashoua-  Thank you for taking such good care of our daughter.  My husband and I are forever greateful.  She seems much better!

VF, Chicago

Dr. Shashoua- Thank you so much for your professional care and efforts.  After 10 years of searching, I have found a doctor I can trust and that really cares about me.  This is a big challenge for patients with Interstitial Cystitis.  Words cannot express my deep appreciation.  You believed me and took me seriously.  Hopefully, this has resulted in a much higher quality of life for me and maybe others.

DC, Urbana, IL

Thank you so very much for all that you did to make my life and recovery the best it could be. I appreciate that fact that you treated me beyond the hospital - It made the experience a little less painful.

RW, Michigan

Dr. S- Patients depend on caring physicians such as yourself.  Thank you for your expertise.

RG, Chicago

Dr. Shashoua - Thanks for everything!  I look forward to a brighter future without dealing with all the issues that had been with me for quite awhile.

MC, Chicago