Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Dr. Sevinç Ümit speaks English, Turkish, German, Bulgarian and Russian, so your consultation, test results and treatment plan can be discussed directly in English without an interpreter.

Migraine Botox is used for chronic migraine — headache on 15 or more days a month, at least 8 of which have migraine features — when preventive medication has not helped enough or cannot be used. Injections are given at standard points on the head and neck, take about 15–20 minutes and are usually repeated every 12 weeks. Suitability is decided after a consultation.

Yes. A full-night polysomnography records breathing, oxygen levels, brain waves, heart rhythm and leg movements while you sleep. Consultation and the sleep study can usually be planned over a two-day stay; if CPAP titration is needed, a third night can be added.

It depends on what you need: a consultation, EEG or EMG, or migraine Botox can usually be done in one day; a sleep study needs two days; a narcolepsy assessment two to three days. Your schedule is planned in advance during the online pre-consultation.

Yes. Send your reports and test results by WhatsApp or email. If needed, a short video pre-consultation is arranged to discuss your symptoms and plan your visit. A final diagnosis and treatment decision are made after the in-person examination.

Bring previous MRI or CT reports (and image files if possible), EEG, EMG and blood test results, a list of your medicines, and — for headache — a headache diary covering the last one to three months.

The practice is in Küçükçekmece on the European side of Istanbul, close to the Cennet Mahallesi Metrobus stop and the Marmaray Küçükçekmece station. It can be reached from Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport by taxi, transfer or public transport.

Reports are issued in Turkish; an English summary can be prepared on request so that your doctor at home can follow your treatment.

Migraine is a long-term condition with a genetic background, so a permanent cure cannot be promised. However, with an accurate diagnosis, effective acute and preventive treatment and lifestyle changes, most people have far fewer and milder attacks. In many women migraine improves after the menopause.

Migraine is typically one-sided, throbbing, moderate to severe and made worse by activity, with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound. Tension-type headache is usually on both sides, pressing and milder, without nausea. A neurological consultation confirms the diagnosis.

The medicine belongs to the same group, but the purpose, protocol, dose and injection points are different. Migraine Botox follows a standard chronic migraine protocol covering the forehead, temples, back of the head, neck and shoulders, and is planned by a neurologist as a medical treatment.

Many people notice a change within 1–2 weeks, but the strongest effect usually appears after the second or third treatment. We recommend at least two to three cycles before judging the result.

Stress is one of the most common triggers, but not the only one. Poor sleep, posture, long screen time, eye strain, skipped meals and dehydration also play a part, together with increased sensitivity of the brain’s pain systems.

Tension-type headache is usually on both sides, pressing, mild to moderate and not worsened by activity, without nausea. Migraine is usually one-sided, throbbing, more severe and comes with nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.

Because the pain is so severe. Today, oxygen, triptans, nerve blocks and preventive medicines can greatly reduce the severity and frequency of attacks. What matters most is an early, correct diagnosis.

A small proportion of people have a relative with cluster headache, so genes may play a part, but most people have no family history.

Classical trigeminal neuralgia is not life-threatening, but the pain can be extremely severe. It is important to exclude secondary causes such as multiple sclerosis or a tumour with an MRI.

The trigeminal nerve also carries sensation from the teeth and jaw, so the pain is often felt in the teeth. A dental examination is useful, but if the teeth are healthy and the pain is electric-shock-like, trigeminal neuralgia should be considered.

The skin is numbed with local anaesthetic and mild sedation can be used if needed. Most people feel pressure and warmth rather than significant pain.

Relief typically lasts from six months to a year or longer. Because the nerves can regrow, pain may return over time; the procedure can then be repeated.

Because the occipital nerve is connected with the trigeminal system in the brainstem, blocking it can reduce pain in many people with migraine and cluster headache. How much it helps and for how long varies between individuals.

The anaesthetic works for a few hours, but pain relief often lasts days to weeks. In chronic headache the block can be repeated at intervals.

No. The electrodes only record activity from the scalp; no needles or electricity are used. The test is completely painless.

Yes. A routine EEG captures a short period of time and abnormal activity may not appear. A sleep-deprived EEG, long-term EEG or video-EEG may be needed when epilepsy is still suspected.

Sleep deprivation makes it more likely that abnormal brain activity will appear and that you will fall asleep during the recording, which increases the diagnostic value of the test.

In many cases yes, if your job allows it. The recorder is small, but the electrodes are visible under a bandage or cap, and you cannot shower during the recording.

Most people describe the nerve conduction part as a series of quick, tingling taps, and the needle part as a mild discomfort similar to an injection. Most tolerate it well, and the test can be paused at any time.

Yes. Nerve conduction studies are the main test for carpal tunnel syndrome and show how severely the median nerve is compressed, which helps decide between splints, injections and surgery.

This can happen. Even without episodes, the recording may show useful information, especially during sleep. Sometimes monitoring is extended or repeated later.

Only if it is necessary to capture seizures, and only gradually under close supervision. This decision is discussed with you beforehand.

VEP and BAEP are completely painless. SEP uses mild electrical pulses that feel like a tapping or tingling sensation; most people tolerate them easily.

Not on their own, but they can support the diagnosis by showing damage in pathways that may look normal on MRI. They are interpreted together with MRI, the examination and sometimes spinal fluid tests.

No. Snoring is very common and not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. If snoring comes with breathing pauses, daytime sleepiness, morning headaches or high blood pressure, an assessment is recommended.

With polysomnography (a sleep study). Breathing, oxygen levels, brain waves and other signals are recorded through the night to measure how often breathing stops and how severe it is.

No. No needles are used; all sensors are stuck to the skin or held with belts. The test is completely painless.

Most people sleep enough for a diagnosis, even if not as well as at home. A few hours of sleep already provide valuable information. Very occasionally the study needs to be repeated.

Ideally every night and for as much of the night as possible. Less than 4 hours a night is generally considered insufficient. Using it during daytime naps also helps.

A dry mouth usually means air is leaking through the mouth. A heated humidifier, a full-face mask or a chin strap usually solves this. Nasal congestion should be treated too.

Insomnia on at least three nights a week for more than three months that affects daytime life is chronic insomnia and should be treated. Shorter-term insomnia can also be assessed if it seriously affects daily functioning.

Yes. Cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is the first-line treatment and improves sleep without medication for many people, with long-lasting results.

Symptoms follow the body clock and are worse in the evening and at night. Daily changes in brain dopamine and iron levels play a part, as does sitting or lying still in the evening.

Yes. Iron deficiency is one of the most important triggers. Even without anaemia, low ferritin can worsen symptoms, so iron levels are checked in everyone with RLS.

In narcolepsy, sleepiness is involuntary and occurs every day despite enough night-time sleep, with irresistible sleep attacks at inappropriate times. It is diagnosed objectively with an overnight sleep study and the next-day MSLT.

Cataplexy is a sudden loss of muscle strength triggered by strong emotions such as laughter or surprise. Unlike fainting, the person stays conscious, hears what is happening and remembers it. Attacks usually pass within seconds.

No. You can book a consultation directly. If you have reports from other doctors, please bring them.

An initial review of your reports and images can be done online. However, because the neurological examination is so important, an in-person consultation is often recommended for a definitive opinion.

Not necessarily. Many people have a single seizure and never have another. EEG and MRI help to estimate the risk of recurrence and decide whether treatment is needed.

Many people become seizure-free with medication, and some childhood epilepsies resolve with age. After a long seizure-free period, medication can sometimes be stopped gradually under supervision.

A TIA causes stroke symptoms that resolve within minutes to hours. It is a warning sign: the risk of a stroke is high in the following days, so urgent assessment and preventive treatment are needed.

The risk can be reduced substantially with blood pressure and cholesterol control, the right blood-thinning medication, treatment of atrial fibrillation and sleep apnea, and lifestyle changes.

Mild slowing and occasional forgetfulness are common with age. Forgetting recent events repeatedly, getting lost or difficulty managing daily tasks are not normal and should be assessed.

Some causes, such as vitamin B12 deficiency, thyroid problems, depression, sleep apnea or medication side effects, are treatable and memory can improve. Alzheimer’s disease cannot be cured, but treatment can help.

No. The most common cause of tremor is essential tremor, which mainly occurs when using the hands. Parkinson’s tremor typically occurs at rest. Thyroid problems, medicines and anxiety can also cause tremor.

Most cases are not directly inherited. In a small proportion, particularly in people diagnosed at a young age or with several affected relatives, a genetic cause may be found.

No. With modern treatments, many people with MS maintain a normal or near-normal level of activity for many years. Early diagnosis and treatment are important.

Yes. Pregnancy is generally safe and the relapse rate often decreases during pregnancy. Treatment needs to be planned in advance, as some medicines must be stopped before conception.

No. Dizziness can be caused by the inner ear, the brain, the heart and blood pressure, medicines, anxiety or migraine. Identifying the type of dizziness helps to find the cause.

Yes. Repositioning manoeuvres are very effective and often relieve symptoms in one or a few sessions. BPPV can recur, but it can be treated again.

No. Essential tremor is much more common. Parkinson’s tremor typically occurs at rest and is accompanied by slowness and stiffness.

Many people with essential tremor notice this. However, alcohol should not be used as a treatment because of the risks of dependence and rebound tremor.

It depends on the cause. Neuropathy due to vitamin B12 deficiency, alcohol or certain medicines may improve partially when the cause is treated. In diabetes, good control can slow or stop progression.

With fewer distractions at night, the brain notices pain signals more. Cooling of the feet and contact with bed sheets can also trigger symptoms.

Many people sleep with their wrists bent, which increases pressure in the carpal tunnel. Fluid also redistributes when lying down.

Yes. EMG confirms the diagnosis, grades severity and excludes other causes, which helps to avoid unnecessary surgery.

No. Most people improve within weeks to months with non-surgical treatment. Surgery is considered for significant weakness, bladder problems or persistent severe pain.

The neurological examination and EMG help to determine which nerve root is affected and whether the MRI findings match the symptoms.

It is a long-term condition, but most people achieve good control with treatment, and some go into remission.

In myasthenia gravis, muscles tire with repeated use, so weakness typically increases during the day and improves with rest.

Most people recover fully, especially with mild weakness and early treatment. EMG can help predict recovery in more severe cases.

No. Bell’s palsy affects the facial nerve, not the brain. However, a stroke can also cause facial weakness, so urgent assessment is important.

The substance is the same, but the purpose, doses and injection sites are different. In neurology, Botox is used to treat involuntary muscle contractions and is planned by a neurologist.

Usually about three months. The duration can vary between people and between sessions.

No. Botox can help spasticity even years after a stroke, as long as there are no fixed contractures. Earlier treatment may help prevent contractures.

Botox does not increase strength, but by reducing stiffness it can make movement easier and allow weaker muscles to work better.

Yes. Botox for hyperhidrosis has been used for many years and is generally safe when performed by trained doctors. Side effects are usually mild and temporary.

Usually four to twelve months. The underarm effect often lasts longer than the palm effect.