Patient Experience
As an 82-year-old with a lifelong fear of hospitals, my experience with Dr. Kutsal was nothing short of transformative. I was admitted to Acibadem Altunizade with severe, unexplained abdominal pain that other clinics had dismissed as 'old age.' Dr. Kutsal didn't just look at my charts; she spent 40 minutes listening to the story of my symptoms, asking about my diet from 50 years ago when I lived in Izmir. She ordered a specific, non-invasive capsule endoscopy that revealed a subtle vascular malformation. Her explanation was so clear, using the analogy of an old garden hose with a weak spot. The treatment was conservative and effective. She even called my daughter personally to explain the care plan. I don't just feel treated; I feel understood and respected.
Our 7-year-old son, Deniz, developed a sudden and extreme aversion to eating, losing weight rapidly. Pediatricians suspected behavioral issues. In desperation, we came to Dr. Kutsal's clinic. Her approach was magical. She had a toy digestive system model and let Deniz 'drive' a camera pill on a tablet screen, turning the consultation into a game. She diagnosed him with EoE (eosinophilic esophagitis) through a meticulously planned and child-friendly scope under sedation. What set her apart was the post-procedure care: a detailed, color-coded food elimination plan with cartoon characters, and a follow-up video call where she 'spoke' to Deniz's favorite stuffed animal about being brave. Her blend of supreme expertise and genuine child-whispering skill saved our son's health and his joy.
I was traveling from Germany for business when I was rushed to Acibadem Altunizade's ER at 3 AM with agonizing pain. Dr. Nesliar Eser Kutsal was the on-call gastroenterologist. Within minutes, she identified a gallstone obstructing my common bile duct—a potential emergency. She performed an urgent ERCP with a stunning calmness that cut through my panic. I was awake but sedated, and she narrated each step in gentle, reassuring English. The stone was removed without surgery. She visited me three times that day, coordinating with the internal medicine team. She provided all my records in German for my home doctor. Her competence in a high-stakes, unfamiliar-patient scenario was awe-inspiring. She turned a medical nightmare abroad into a story of incredible professional grace.
For years, I managed my ulcerative colitis with a standard medication regimen, but my symptoms were creeping back. My routine follow-up with Dr. Kutsal was a masterclass in proactive care. Instead of just refilling my prescription, she analyzed my latest calprotectin levels and microbiome mapping test (which she had suggested earlier). She proposed a strategic, nuanced shift to a newer biologic, explaining the molecular mechanism with a simple diagram. She spent an hour discussing not just the medicine, but stress triggers, sleep hygiene, and tailored probiotic strains. She then scheduled a coordinated video consultation with a dietician from her team. This wasn't a 10-minute checkup; it was a comprehensive, forward-looking strategy session. She treats chronic disease not as a static condition, but as a dynamic puzzle to be solved with the patient as a partner.