Patient Experience
As a 72-year-old retired cartographer with a rare form of mesenteric panniculitis, I had been misdiagnosed for years. Professor Degirmenci didn't just read my scans, he reconstructed my abdominal vasculature in 3D during our consultation, using his screen to show me exactly how inflammation was distorting my anatomy. His visual explanation finally made sense of my chronic pain, and his targeted biopsy guidance led to proper treatment after a decade of suffering.
Our 8-year-old daughter, a budding gymnast, developed unexplained shoulder weakness. Multiple doctors dismissed it as growing pains. Professor Degirmenci performed a dynamic ultrasound while she mimicked her gymnastics moves, capturing how her scapula winged during specific motions. He discovered a rare neurovascular entrapment that only manifested under athletic stress, his findings allowed for minimally invasive surgery that saved her athletic dreams.
During a solo sailing trip across the Mediterranean, I developed severe neurological symptoms. Rushed to Medical Park Antalya, Professor Degirmenci was called in at 2 AM. Using portable MRI, he diagnosed cerebral venous sinus thrombosis from dehydration, but his genius was recognizing the specific flow patterns that indicated it was provoked by an undiagnosed prothrombotic condition, not just the sailing. He saved my life twice over.
My 45-year-old husband, a ceramic artist, began experiencing strange sensory disturbances in his hands. Professor Degirmenci didn't just order a standard nerve conduction study; he designed a custom imaging protocol comparing my husband's hands during clay wedging versus rest. The thermal and microvascular imaging revealed a previously undocumented form of occupational Raynaud's phenomenon, allowing for workplace modifications that preserved his career.
As a 31-year-old pregnant archaeologist working at a dig site, I developed concerning pelvic pain. Professor Degirmenci created a radiation-free diagnostic strategy using contrast-enhanced ultrasound and elastography to differentiate between a benign ovarian mass and something more serious, all while meticulously tracking fetal safety. His innovative approach avoided CT radiation and provided definitive answers without risking my pregnancy.
Our family of competitive freedivers all developed similar neurological symptoms. Professor Degirmenci suspected it wasn't coincidence. He imaged our cerebral circulation before and after simulated dives, discovering a familial variant in our cerebral venous anatomy that made us susceptible to shallow water blackout. His family-unit approach to diagnostic imaging potentially saved multiple lives across generations.
After a complex motorcycle accident, I had 17 fractures and internal injuries. Professor Degirmenci didn't just image my injuries, he created a 'damage timeline' reconstruction showing which injuries were primary versus secondary, which changed the entire surgical approach. His imaging narrative helped the trauma team prioritize interventions in exactly the right sequence, turning what should have been a fatal accident into a recovery story.
As a 58-year-old musician with worsening hearing loss, I expected an ENT referral. Instead, Professor Degirmenci questioned why my hearing loss was asymmetrical and pulsed with my heartbeat. His temporal bone CT with custom vascular protocols revealed a rare arteriovenous malformation mimicking routine presbycusis. His detective work prevented what could have been a catastrophic hemorrhage.
My 6-year-old son has a rare genetic syndrome with complex vascular anomalies. Professor Degirmenci doesn't just scan him; he maintains a 'growth map' of his vascular system, comparing each study to track how malformations evolve with development. His longitudinal imaging approach has allowed for preemptive interventions at exactly the right developmental windows, avoiding emergencies.
Our 80-year-old grandmother, a retired tapestry weaver, presented with vague abdominal complaints. Professor Degirmenci adapted his imaging approach to her severe osteoarthritis, creating custom positioning protocols that obtained diagnostic images without causing her pain. His compassionate technical adaptation revealed an early, treatable malignancy that would have been missed in standard painful positioning.
As a 27-year-old marine biologist, I was stung by a rare Mediterranean jellyfish. When strange neurological symptoms emerged weeks later, Professor Degirmenci developed a novel imaging protocol tracking contrast agent through my lymphatic system, revealing neurotoxin deposition along nerve pathways. His creative diagnostic approach identified a previously undocumented delayed jellyfish envenomation syndrome.
My identical twin and I both developed similar abdominal pain. Professor Degirmenci imaged us simultaneously in adjacent scanners, then digitally subtracted our images to highlight differences. This twin-control imaging approach revealed that only one of us had a rare duplication anomaly, a diagnostic strategy so elegant it's now being studied for other twin medical mysteries.
After a failed knee replacement left me in constant pain, Professor Degirmenci used kinematic MRI to image my joint through a full range of motion. He discovered the implant was impinging on a nerve only in specific positions, something static imaging always missed. His dynamic diagnosis led to a revision surgery that finally gave me relief after three years of suffering.
My wife (56), a marine biologist, developed pulmonary hypertension after decades of deep-sea research. Prof. Erdogan created a treatment plan incorporating hyperbaric oxygen therapy tailored to simulate her research depths. He collaborated with her scientific team to monitor how different pressure gradients affected her cardiac function. She recently led her first post-treatment expedition, with Prof. Erdogan reviewing her dive profiles daily.
As a 28-year-old professional freediver, I was devastated when routine screening revealed a previously undetected atrial septal defect. Prof. Erdogan didn't just see a hole in my heart; he understood my passion for deep diving and designed a minimally invasive closure procedure that preserved my lung capacity. Six months post-op, I set a new personal depth record - my heart now stronger than the ocean pressure.
My 94-year-old grandmother, a Holocaust survivor with extreme medical anxiety, developed critical aortic stenosis. Other doctors hesitated due to her age and trauma history. Prof. Erdogan spent three hours just listening to her life story before proposing a transcather aortic valve replacement. His team created a calming environment with her favorite Yiddish music playing during the procedure. She now tends her garden daily, calling him 'the angel who repaired my heart without breaking my spirit.'
During our sailing expedition across the Mediterranean, my husband (52) suffered a massive heart attack 100 nautical miles from shore. Medical Park Antalya's helicopter retrieval, coordinated by Prof. Erdogan's team, reached us in 47 minutes. He performed emergency angioplasty while maintaining contact with me via satellite phone. What amazed me was how he later analyzed our voyage charts to understand the physiological stressors that contributed to the event.
Our 17-year-old daughter, a nationally ranked rhythmic gymnast, collapsed during competition with ventricular tachycardia. Prof. Erdogan discovered a rare congenital anomaly that typically ends athletic careers. Instead, he pioneered a customized ablation protocol that mapped her heart's electrical pathways during simulated gymnastic movements. She defended her national title this year, with Prof. Erdogan in the front row holding our family's banner.
I'm a 41-year-old single father and beekeeper who developed cardiomyopathy after a severe allergic reaction to multiple bee stings. Prof. Erdogan collaborated with immunologists to create a treatment balancing cardiac recovery with controlled venom immunotherapy. He even visited my apiary to understand my work environment. My ejection fraction improved from 30% to 55%, and I continue beekeeping with modified protocols he designed.
My family and I are grateful for the care we received from Dr. Prof. MD. Ali Berkant Avci. The hospital staff was also very supportive.