Patient Experience
I brought my 7-year-old son, Emre, to Dr. Şimşek after he fainted during a school football match. Our local doctor mentioned a possible heart murmur, and we were terrified. Dr. Şimşek has this incredible calmness that immediately put both me and my son at ease. He didn't just talk to me; he knelt down to Emre's level, showed him the stethoscope, and called it a 'heart microphone.' His examination was thorough but gentle. He diagnosed a benign flow murmur, explaining it with simple drawings that even Emre understood. He said, 'This little champion's heart is strong, just a bit noisy with excitement.' No unnecessary tests, just clear, compassionate care. We left not with fear, but with relief and a drawing of a superhero heart.
At 82, after two stents and a bypass years ago, I considered myself a 'heart veteran.' But the persistent fluttering in my chest this time felt different. Dr. Şimşek reviewed my decades of scattered records from various hospitals and spent an hour constructing a timeline. He identified a pattern everyone else had missed: my atrial fibrillation episodes were consistently tied to a specific, now-discontinued blood pressure medication I took years ago. His approach wasn't just about the present symptom; it was forensic. He changed my medication and scheduled a cautious ablation, explaining the risks and benefits with a transparency I've never experienced. 'Mr. Adnan,' he said, 'your history is your greatest diagnostic tool.' At Acibadem Atasehir, he didn't just treat a condition; he solved a lifelong puzzle.
It was supposed to be a routine stress test for my insurance. Midway through, Dr. Şimşek's demeanor changed subtly. He stopped the test, not with alarm, but with focused urgency. 'Mrs. Ipek, we need to look at something immediately. Please don't be frightened.' He personally walked me to the cath lab, explaining that my EKG showed a critical, hidden blockage they call the 'widow-maker.' Within two hours, I had a life-saving stent placed. What stays with me isn't the procedure—it's the quiet confidence and the direct, honest communication. He called my husband himself to explain. No drama, just profound competence. He saw what others might have missed on a 'routine' day. I owe him my life, quite literally.
My initial consultation with Dr. Şimşek was for recurring palpitations. Instead of a quick prescription, he proposed a 'data-gathering mission.' He equipped me with a compact, wearable ECG monitor for a week and asked me to keep a detailed log of my diet, stress, and sleep. When I returned, he cross-referenced my journal entries with the cardiac data on his large screen. He pointed to a spike in arrhythmia and said, 'See this? This was Wednesday, 3 PM. What happened?' I remembered a massive, triple-shot coffee that day. He laughed kindly and said, 'Your heart is telling you it doesn't like your barista's strongest work.' His method was collaborative, almost like detective work. He treated me as a partner in my own health. The solution wasn't just medication; it was lifestyle tweaks based on hard evidence. Revolutionary care.