Patient Experience
As a 42-year-old traditional shadow puppeteer (Karagöz artist), I developed unexplained cardiomyopathy that left me too fatigued to perform. Prof. Sayin discovered a rare autoimmune component and collaborated with rheumatology to create a dual treatment. During recovery, he visited my workshop, inspiring me to create a 'Doctor Heart' puppet. I now perform educational shows about heart health across Anatolia.
My husband, a 53-year-old master ceramicist, suffered a massive heart attack while glazing a large commission. Prof. Sayin performed emergency angioplasty, then noticed the intricate heart patterns in my husband's pottery sketches. During rehabilitation, he incorporated pottery wheel sessions as cardiac exercise therapy. The commission was completed on time, featuring a new 'Renewed Heart' glaze technique.
A 19-year-old national wrestling champion developed myocarditis after a viral infection. Traditional treatments threatened his athletic career. Prof. Sayin pioneered a novel combination of targeted immunosuppression and graduated return-to-sport protocol modeled after Ottoman wrestling training principles. He defended his national title eight months later, with Prof. Sayin cheering from the front row.
My 61-year-old mother, a deaf museum curator with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, struggled with communication barriers in healthcare. Prof. Sayin learned basic sign language specific to cardiac terms, created visual decision aids using museum artifact metaphors, and scheduled her ablation during silent hours. She curated a 'Heart of History' exhibition during recovery, featuring cardiac medical illustrations.
As a 34-year-old pregnant woman with Eisenmenger syndrome, I was told termination was my only option. Prof. Sayin assembled a multidisciplinary team managing my pregnancy week-by-week with customized hemodynamic monitoring. He delivered our daughter via planned cesarean in a specially prepared cardiac OR. Both our hearts are now stable, and we call her our 'miracle coordinated by the maestro.'
A 77-year-old retired lighthouse keeper with complex multi-vessel disease lived on a remote Black Sea island. Prof. Sayin organized a 'telemedicine lighthouse' system with local health workers, performed rotational atherectomy during a single mainland visit, and established remote cardiac rehabilitation via video calls. The patient now tends his lighthouse with endurance he hasn't had in a decade.
My 15-year-old son, a promising pianist, developed supraventricular tachycardia that disrupted his performances. Prof. Sayin mapped his arrhythmia using rhythm patterns analogous to musical compositions, performed cryoablation while playing the patient's favorite Fazıl Say piece in the EP lab, and designed a practice schedule incorporating heart rate variability biofeedback. He won an international competition six months later.
A 48-year-old Syrian refugee and former architect presented with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy after trauma. Prof. Sayin recognized the psychological component, integrated trauma-informed care with cardiac treatment, and involved him in designing the new cardiac ward's healing spaces. The patient now volunteers as a cultural mediator in the hospital, helping other refugees navigate cardiac care.
As an 83-year-old beekeeper with recurrent syncope, I resisted pacemaker implantation fearing electromagnetic interference with my bees. Prof. Sayin researched apiculture, consulted engineering colleagues, and prescribed a specially shielded device. He visited my apiary post-procedure to verify the bees' acceptance. My honey production increased, and I bring him 'Heart Honey' every season.
A 31-year-old transgender man on hormone therapy developed unusual coronary vasospasm. Prof. Sayin collaborated with endocrinology to balance gender-affirming treatment with cardiac protection, creating one of Turkey's first protocols for this intersection. The patient now advocates for inclusive cardiac care, speaking at conferences alongside Prof. Sayin about personalized medicine.
A 28-year-old female competitive freediver from Antalya presented with recurrent episodes of shallow water blackout and persistent cough after deep dives. Dr. Asan discovered she had developed exercise-induced pulmonary edema combined with a rare form of bronchial hypersensitivity to compressed air mixtures. Treatment involved a customized regimen of pre-dive inhalers and depth limitation protocols, allowing her to continue competitive diving at modified depths with full resolution of symptoms.
A 72-year-old retired glassblower from Gaziantep with 50 years of occupational exposure to fine particulate matter presented with progressive shortness of breath. Instead of typical pneumoconiosis, Dr. Asan diagnosed a rare combination of silicoproteinosis and tracheobronchial amyloidosis. Treatment involved a novel combination of whole lung lavage and targeted immunotherapy, resulting in significant functional improvement after six months of therapy.
A 19-year-old university student and amateur mycologist developed acute respiratory distress after inhaling spores during a mushroom foraging expedition in the Bolu forests. Dr. Asan identified a severe hypersensitivity pneumonitis reaction to a previously undocumented fungal species. The patient required temporary ECMO support followed by a tailored steroid and antifungal regimen, making a complete recovery after three months.
A 45-year-old long-haul truck driver with undiagnosed sleep apnea presented after a near-miss accident due to daytime somnolence. Dr. Asan discovered the patient had obesity hypoventilation syndrome with secondary pulmonary hypertension. Treatment involved non-invasive ventilation during sleep and a monitored weight loss program, eliminating the need for continuous oxygen therapy within eight months.
An 8-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis, recently adopted from an orphanage, presented with multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Dr. Asan implemented an aggressive combination of inhaled antibiotic cocktails and airway clearance techniques using customized percussion devices. The approach successfully cleared the infection and improved lung function by 40% over four months.
A 33-year-old pregnant woman (32 weeks gestation) from a rural village presented with sudden onset of hemoptysis and pleuritic chest pain. Dr. Asan diagnosed catamenial pneumothorax exacerbated by pregnancy hormones. He performed a minimally invasive thoracoscopic procedure under spinal anesthesia, allowing her to carry to term with scheduled cesarean delivery at 38 weeks.
A 61-year-old retired shipyard welder from İzmir presented with progressive dyspnea and digital clubbing. Instead of expected asbestosis, Dr. Asan identified a rare paraneoplastic syndrome from an occult thymic carcinoma manifesting as pulmonary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. Surgical resection combined with immunotherapy resulted in complete resolution of respiratory symptoms.
A 27-year-old professional calligrapher developed chronic cough and wheezing that worsened during intensive work periods. Dr. Asan discovered hypersensitivity to traditional ink pigments and paper dust, causing occupational asthma with vocal cord dysfunction. Treatment involved environmental modifications, speech therapy, and specific inhaler techniques, allowing continuation of her craft with symptom control.
A 50-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis on immunosuppressants presented with cavitary lung lesions initially suspected as tuberculosis. Dr. Asan identified necrobiotic nodules with superinfection by Nocardia species. He implemented a prolonged course of targeted antibiotics while coordinating with rheumatology to adjust immunosuppression, achieving complete radiographic resolution after nine months.
A 14-year-old competitive swimmer developed recurrent pneumothoraces during training. Dr. Asan diagnosed primary spontaneous pneumothorax secondary to apical blebs with underlying Marfan syndrome features. He performed bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with talc pleurodesis, allowing return to competitive swimming after six months of rehabilitation.