Patient Experience
Our 72-year-old father was referred to Dr. Aydinli after multiple neurologists dismissed his worsening tremors as 'just old age.' She was the first to suspect something more complex than essential tremor. Through a meticulous review of his decades-old medical records from another country and a specialized neuroimaging protocol she personally designed, she diagnosed a rare late-onset neurodegenerative condition. Her approach wasn't just about medication; she coordinated with a geriatric physiotherapist and an occupational therapist to adapt our home. She speaks with such clarity and patience, explaining brain pathways to my father as if he were her colleague. We're not 'cured,' but we have a roadmap and, for the first time, understanding instead of fear.
Our 8-year-old daughter, Elif, had a catastrophic epileptic seizure at school—her first ever. The ambulance brought us to Acibadem in pure panic. Dr. Aydinli met us in the ER, calm amidst our storm. She didn't just talk to us; she knelt down to Elif's eye level, even as Elif was post-ictal and confused, and spoke in a soft, story-like voice about 'the electrical storm in her brain that had finished.' She ordered a rapid but comprehensive EEG and MRI, ruling out tumors within hours, which was a huge relief. Her follow-up plan was incredibly detailed: a specific ketogenic diet plan, a seizure diary app she recommended, and her personal number for true emergencies. She turned our nightmare into a manageable condition. Elif now draws pictures of 'Dr. Nur, the brain explorer.'
This was a routine follow-up for my 15-year-old son's well-controlled migraine, but Dr. Aydinli noticed he was subtly favoring one hand when he took his jacket off—something we'd missed completely. She conducted an impromptu, game-like neurological exam in her office and found very mild, increased tone on one side. She was concerned enough to fast-track an MRI, which revealed a small, slow-growing vascular malformation. She called us herself with the results, explaining the options with incredible diagrams. She then performed a minimally invasive neuroendovascular procedure herself. The precision was astounding; he was home in two days with just a tiny puncture site. She caught what wasn't even our complaint and prevented a potential future hemorrhage. Her vigilance is her superpower.
Our newborn, Arda, was transferred to Acibadem NICU with abnormal, jerky eye movements and poor feeding. The initial scare was a possible brain infection. Dr. Aydinli spent an hour at the incubator, just observing him with a focused intensity. She hypothesized it was a rare neonatal movement disorder, not an infection, and ordered a specific genetic panel instead of subjecting him to more invasive tests. She was right. The diagnosis was a complex genetic channelopathy. There's no 'standard' treatment, so she collaborated with specialists in Germany via video conference, right in front of us, to design a tailored medication regimen. She treats Arda not as a case, but as a little person with a unique brain blueprint. Her global network and willingness to think beyond the textbook gave us hope.