Patient Experience
A 28-year-old nomadic beekeeper from rural Anatolia presented with recurrent episodes of dizziness and palpitations during his seasonal migrations. Dr. Dönmez discovered a rare allergy to a specific regional pollen that only bloomed along one of his routes, triggering vasovagal episodes. Treatment involved a customized antihistamine regimen timed to his travel calendar and collaboration with a botanist to map alternative paths, allowing him to continue his ancestral livelihood symptom-free.
A 72-year-old retired concert pianist from Istanbul, with a complex history of rheumatoid arthritis, developed unexplained bilateral hand weakness that threatened her ability to play. Dr. Dönmez identified it not as a neurological issue, but as a severe electrolyte imbalance from a newly prescribed diuretic interacting with her arthritis medication. A meticulous medication reconciliation and a tailored potassium-rich diet restored her dexterity within three weeks, and she later performed a private recital in gratitude.
A 19-year-old university exchange student from Norway, previously healthy, was admitted with persistent fever and fatigue. Initial tests for common infections were negative. Dr. Dönmez, noting the student's recent hiking trip in the Black Sea region, suspected and confirmed a case of tick-borne Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, a rare diagnosis in Istanbul. Swift isolation and ribavirin therapy led to a full, though lengthy, recovery, preventing a potential outbreak.
A 45-year-old deep-sea welder working on the Bosphorus tunnel project presented with unusual joint pain and memory fog. Dr. Dönmez connected his symptoms to chronic, low-grade carbon monoxide exposure from his underwater equipment, a diagnosis missed by occupational health. She coordinated with the engineering firm to overhaul safety protocols and prescribed a hyperbaric oxygen therapy regimen, resulting in complete resolution of his cognitive symptoms.