Patient Experience
My family and I are grateful for the care we received from Dr. Spec. MD. Ozlem Ipek. The hospital staff was also very supportive.
My 82-year-old mother, Fatma, was admitted with severe dehydration and confusion during Ramadan. Dr. Ayaz didn't just treat the numbers on her chart. He sat with her, explained in gentle Turkish why her body needed water even while fasting, and created a personalized hydration schedule that respected her religious practice. He coordinated with her cardiologist and adjusted seven different medications without a single interaction issue. What impressed me most was his Friday visit, he came specifically to check if the new regimen was working before the weekend. Her mind cleared within two days. He treats the whole person, not just the disease.
As an expat software developer with mysterious recurrent fevers for 8 months, I'd seen 4 doctors across Istanbul. Dr. Ayaz approached it like a diagnostic puzzle. Instead of another broad antibiotic course, he spent 45 minutes mapping my travel history (I work remotely from beach towns), noticed a correlation with coastal stays, and suspected something uncommon. He ordered very specific tests for bacterial cultures most don't consider. It turned out to be Chromobacterium violaceum, a rare infection from tropical waters. His meticulous detective work solved what others missed. His clinic even helped navigate the rare medication import process. Life-changing.
Our 6-year-old son Kerem was hospitalized with what appeared to be severe gastroenteritis, but Dr. Ayaz noticed subtle neurological twitches others dismissed. He halted standard treatment, suspecting something mimicking intestinal issues. He personally accompanied us to pediatric neurology, translating complex information into clear analogies ('Think of his nerves like misfiring telephone wires'). It was anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, rare and serious. Dr. Ayaz became our medical quarterback for 3 weeks, coordinating between ICU, neurology, and infectious disease teams. He gave us his personal number for after-hours worries. His vigilance caught a life-threatening condition disguised as a stomach bug.
I'm a 45-year-old teacher with a routine checkup that turned into a masterclass in preventive medicine. Dr. Ayaz didn't just glance at my bloodwork; he created a color-coded timeline graph showing 5-year trends in my cholesterol and glucose, explaining how each line told a story about my metabolism. He identified a prediabetic trend others called 'borderline.' Instead of medication, he designed a 'micro-habit' plan: 3-minute post-meal walks, specific apple varieties for snacks, and sleep hygiene tweaks. Three months later, my numbers reversed course. He practices medicine that's both deeply scientific and profoundly practical, he doesn't just prescribe pills, he prescribes understanding.
Dr. Spec. MD. Yusuf Baskiran provided exceptional care for my obstetrics and gynaecology condition. The treatment was personalized and effective.
My 8-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last month, and our world turned upside down. Dr. Ufuk Ozuguz was the first specialist we saw at Liv Hospital Bahçeşehir, and he became our anchor in the storm. He didn't just talk to me, he got down on his knees to speak directly to my daughter, explaining her condition with cartoon pancreas drawings he drew himself. His approach transformed her fear into curiosity. He created a personalized carb-counting game for her and trained our whole family. We're three weeks into this journey, and thanks to his compassionate, child-centered care, we're managing better than we ever imagined possible.
As a 72-year-old with decades of mismanaged thyroid issues, I'd seen countless endocrinologists who just adjusted my levothyroxine dose and sent me on my way. Dr. Ozuguz did something radical: he listened for forty minutes during our first consultation. He discovered my chronic fatigue wasn't just hypothyroidism, it was a complex interplay of thyroid dysfunction, vitamin D deficiency, and sleep apnea he suspected from my neck circumference. He coordinated with pulmonology and ordered tests no one else had considered. Six months later, after CPAP treatment and targeted supplementation alongside thyroid optimization, I've regained energy I haven't had since my fifties. This wasn't medication management; this was detective work that changed my quality of life.
I arrived at the emergency department at midnight with a thyroid storm, heart racing at 140bpm, trembling, confused. Dr. Ozuguz was called in urgently and managed my case with terrifying calmness. What struck me wasn't just the medical expertise (the precise beta-blocker and antithyroid medication protocol that stabilized me in hours), but how he treated my panic. While nurses administered medications, he held my hand and explained each step in quiet, measured Turkish, his voice cutting through my terror. He stayed until 4 AM monitoring my response personally, not delegating to residents. Following hospitalization, he designed a Graves' disease treatment plan incorporating both radioactive iodine options and psychological support resources for the anxiety that often accompanies this condition. He saved my life, then cared for the trauma of the experience.
What began as a routine checkup for slightly elevated blood sugar revealed something extraordinary under Dr. Ozuguz's care. Instead of immediately labeling me prediabetic, he noticed subtle skin darkening on my knuckles that I'd attributed to aging. He suspected acanthosis nigricans and ordered specific insulin resistance tests alongside adrenal function panels. The diagnosis: a rare, mild form of insulin receptor mutation. His approach was revolutionary, rather than standard metformin, he designed a precision nutrition plan synchronized with my circadian rhythm and minimal, targeted medication. At my 3-month follow-up, not only had my numbers normalized, but the skin changes had receded. He turned what could have been a lifetime of generic 'diabetes prevention' into a tailored solution for my unique biology. I've never felt so scientifically understood by a physician.
The recovery process was smooth thanks to Dr. Spec. MD. Lokman Soyoral's expertise. Highly recommend for pain management treatment.
A 22-year-old music student with Marfan syndrome presented with sudden chest pain. While aortic dissection was ruled out, Dr. Sagcan diagnosed spontaneous pneumomediastinum from repeated Valsalva during instrument practice. Conservative management with oxygen and analgesia was successful. The patient's conservatory adjusted his performance requirements during the 3-week recovery.
A 63-year-old retired ballet master presented with joint pain and rash, initially diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Dr. Sagcan recognized the photosensitive distribution and ordered angiographic studies, diagnosing cholesterol embolization syndrome after cardiac catheterization. Treatment involved statins and corticosteroids. His former students organized a rotating care schedule during his 5-month recovery.
A 72-year-old retired ship captain from the Black Sea region, lifelong smoker with no prior hospitalizations, presented with 3 weeks of progressive fatigue and unexplained weight loss. Dr. Sagcan discovered subtle clubbing and ordered a CT scan revealing a rare thymic carcinoma with paraneoplastic syndrome. Treatment involved immunotherapy instead of standard chemotherapy due to the patient's specific biomarkers. Recovery was slow but steady over 8 months, with his grandchildren's weekly video calls providing crucial emotional support.
A 19-year-old university exchange student from Kazakhstan developed sudden high fever, headache, and confusion after arriving in Istanbul. Dr. Sagcan recognized the temporal connection to her travel and suspected tick-borne encephalitis, which was confirmed through specialized cerebrospinal fluid PCR. Treatment involved supportive care and antiviral therapy. The patient's parents flew in but faced language barriers; hospital staff arranged translation services. Full neurological recovery took 6 weeks.
A 45-year-old female ceramic artist presented with intermittent abdominal pain and flushing, dismissed by previous doctors as IBS. Dr. Sagcan noted the correlation with certain foods and ordered urinary 5-HIAA testing, diagnosing carcinoid syndrome from a small intestinal neuroendocrine tumor. Treatment involved somatostatin analogs and surgical resection. Her recovery allowed return to work in 3 months, with her studio collective organizing meal deliveries during treatment.
A 68-year-old retired mathematics professor with controlled hypertension developed progressive leg weakness and dark urine after starting a new herbal supplement. Dr. Sagcan diagnosed statin-induced necrotizing autoimmune myopathy through muscle biopsy and anti-HMGCR antibody testing. Treatment involved immunosuppressants and plasma exchange. The patient's daughter, a pharmacist, helped identify the supplement interaction. Rehabilitation took 9 months with partial recovery.
A 31-year-old Syrian refugee and construction worker presented with cough and night sweats, initially treated for bronchitis elsewhere. Dr. Sagcan noted his occupational silica dust exposure and ordered specialized testing, diagnosing chronic beryllium disease mimicking sarcoidosis. Treatment involved corticosteroids and removal from exposure. The patient's limited Turkish language skills and precarious immigration status complicated care coordination; Dr. Sagcan's team worked with a refugee health organization.
A 52-year-old female executive with a pacemaker for complete heart block developed recurrent syncope despite normal device checks. Dr. Sagcan identified pacemaker syndrome through hemodynamic monitoring during position changes, requiring device reprogramming and beta-blocker therapy. Her demanding job complicated medication adherence until her assistant was trained to provide reminders. Symptoms resolved completely within 2 weeks.
A 27-year-old professional freediver presented with exercise-induced dizziness and shortness of breath. Dr. Sagcan suspected patent foramen ovale after noting symptoms correlated with Valsalva maneuvers during dives. Contrast echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis, and percutaneous closure was performed. The patient's diving team collaborated on a gradual return-to-sport protocol over 4 months.