New to Kalkan - Medical Advice Please!

[PompeyLad]

Hi All and congrats on a really addictive and informative forum.....Great to be on board!

I just wondered if anyone had any experience of medical treatment whilst on hols in Kalkan?

Don''t want to tempt fate, but I am an acute Crohns Disease sufferer and have never ventured out of the EU since diagnosis. Hoping I don''t relapse, but would be good to share the experiences of anyone who has sadly been taken ill whilst in Kalkan.

Other (top secret) thing to report is, er, this hols will kind of be a big deal for me as I intend to make it a lifechanging and very special occasion for me and my other half.... any of you ol'' romantics out there have some top tips for the venue for a ''down on one knee'' moment?! (SSShhhhh!)

Many thanks and congrats on a really friendly forum! Hope to see some of you in the great place in July!!!

Al



Linkback: https://www.enjoykalkan.com/forum/index.php?topic=3675.0

[claire]

Hi Al,

I can''t help you on the medical front, but in terms of romantic places to pop the question, well there are SO many!!

I''ve only been once - we just got back a few weeks ago - but I''d say the following would be good;

The Nar restaurant roof top (very smart and great view)
The Korsan Fish Terrace roof top (again, very smart)
Belgin''s Kitchen roof top (it''s Ottoman style seating, and they''ve got a little private seating area with curtains round it, but the foods not as good as the other places in my opinion)
At the end of the pier/jetty - there is some seating there and it''s a lovely view of Kalkan.
Fidanka at Kisla (about 5 min taxi out of Kalkan).  We stayed there and it is so romantic - flowers everywhere (read my reather long winded review to get the gist).  They have a restaurant and the food is lovely, as is the view to Kalkan.
Maybe hire a boat - perhaps moonlight cruise, or perhaps during a day cruise you could go swimming, give it the "Look what I found, quick, come and see this!" vibe and present her with the ring while in the water (don''t drop it though!!!) ...?

The other 2 amazing places that we went to were the Green Lake - the mountains are incredible.  We were up there at the time of the call to prayer and the sound of it echoing around the valley and mountains was unbelievably awesome.  And Simena, near Kekova - we were spellbound by the place...

You will have an amazing time out there, it''s gorgeous.  Let us know what happens!

Claire.

[Mercimek]

There is a qualified doctor in Kalkan, Dr Cem is based at the Tuana medical centre (above Teskom supermarket) and also operates a 24 hr call out. I stand to be corrected but there is also another Doctor, Dr Niazi (spelling?). Kalkan also has health centre on the Kalamar road plus 3 chemists. Either of these Doctors have links with Fethiye hospitals -Esnaf being the main tourist one- which is an hours drive away and can treat most things. Some very serious cases may be referred to Antalya.
I am not sure what experience / knowledge of Crohns the doctors here will have, so it may be as well to carry your UK doctor or specialists contact details.

[Mrs Enjoy Kalkan]

I have been to a Doctor before that is on Kalamar road just opposite the pharmacy (not sure if this is the same one Mercimek?). I had snapped a tendon in my leg and he was extremely efficient and not overly expensive. His surgery was also very clean.We even had wear those blue bag things over our shoes when we went in.

[PompeyLad]

Thanks Guys, appreciate all the comments - many thanks

Claire, we''re staying at the Fidanka! My girlfriend fell in love with it in the Tapestry brochure. We read your brill review and are now more excited than ever! Apparently you can buy some of the handicarfts adorning the rooms? We''re on a ground floor room I think; bit of a shame as we won''t have any of those notoriously wonky wooden staircases to climb!

With renewed thanks for all the medical info

Al 

[misty]

Hi PompeyLad...are you like me a true blue Interesting that someone posted that there are no qualified doctors in Kalkan.....my son was taken ill and we saw what I thought was a fully qualified doctor...he only had an ear infection..nothing compared to your condition but the doctor was fantastic and sorted him out no problems. I asked the Pharmacy to recommend a doctor and it all turned out well.

As for going down on one knee.....why spoil a nice holiday    Only joking before the hawks pounce on me !!!! Loads of nice restaurants....if it was me I would go for either Coast or Ibo''s two of the best one in town...in my book anyway.

Good luck on both situations     

[ScotsinKalkan]

Try taking her to the Mediteran hotel and restaurant, the food is good and they have these Turkish day beds (like a four poster but outside and with cushions) they will bring you some fizz and canapes and you can sit overlooking Kalkan, very romantic. If you go for the late afternoon you can swim and dine.

[RosiB]

I''ve had to see a doctor twice in Kalkan - once for me and once for our granddaughter; both times, saw the doctor at the medical centre and both times were more than pleased.

[Lantana]

Not sure where Belinda has got her information from. Let''s hope Dr Cem doesn''t read the Forum, he might be rather disconcerted to read that Belinda does not believe he is properly qualified. The doctor in Kalkan is fully qualified, certainly on a par with a UK GP.  Initial Medical training in Turkey is 7 years and meets all European standards.

He can be found, as Mercimek has pointed out, at the Tuana Medical centre, above the Teskom supermarket and offers a 24 hour service throughout the summer season.

He is able to offer as full a service as a GP in the UK, his English is good and he has extensive experience. Should a patient need a wider range of diagnostics or treatments than is available in Kalkan - then they would be referred to Fethiye, an hour away, where there are three very well equipped hospitals (two private, one state) staffed by professionals in every field. This is also what happens in the UK, GP''s provide primary care and refer to specialists in hospitals any patients who need additional diagnostics or treatment.

What you should consider in your ongoing management of Crohn''s disease is what medication to bring with you. Many prescription medicines here have different names to those with which you will be familiar with in the UK. So ask your doctor to give you the generic names of any prescription medicines you think you may need or bring a sufficient supply with you.

But don''t worry about the medical facilities - they will be more than adequate for your needs.

Lantana

[Chucky]

My son contracted an ear infection when we were in Kalkan. He went to the pharmacy opposite the clinic on the Kalamar Road. The Pharmacist had a look and then advised him on the most suitable anti-biotics and ear drops. They did the job and he was very impressed with their service.
Joan

[fidimax]

The pharmacy on Kalamar rd is a little gem,I wish we had something like that in Bury,they are very helpful with all the minor things.

[itstime]

I needed to seek medical treatment last October and visited Dr Cem. I was very impressed with treatment I got and have nothing but praise for the efficient and pleasant service.
Maybe Belinda can let us know why she thinks there are no "properly qualified" doctors in Kalkan as I along with many others believed otherwise

[toffeelad]

What is it with ear infections in Kalkan? Every year we have a case in the family. The 1st year was very severe and we were not on our own to the extent where we had the water tested at our hotel complex (which i am not going to name because the results came back negative) and it seemed half the children in the complex were complaining of ear ache. Anyhow the doctor above the Tesco supermarket was very very helpfull and knew exactly what to do as though it was a regular occurrence. My boy had to have a jab in his bottom and within a few hours he was right a rain. Astonishing really compared to what he was like. He was curled up in a ball unable to speak and very distressed. This cost us 60tyl and it was the best money we have ever spent whilst in Kalkan.
Every year since one of us seems to contract an ear infection. As soon a this becomes apparent we take ourselves off to the chemist on the Kalamar rd just off the roundabout and they subscribe us with antibiotics and they are a bloody godsend,and they must cost us the best part of 4tyl.
Surely we are not alone in experiencing these ear infections
Toffeelad

[felicity]

I really do think that you are either prone to ear infections or you are not..!! Me and my husband and my kids have (touch wood) next to never gotten any...and the kids when they young too - not one...maybe it is genetic...??!!! 

[Mercimek]

Slightly off subject but...
Swimming in the sea or pool and letting the water stay in the ear can change the acidity in the ear canal, making it more prone to infection. After swimming in a pool the chlorine can kill any friendly bacteria also making them prone to infection.
You should therefore ensure you ''''empty'''' your ears of water and dry them after swimming. You can also use a mild vinegar solution to clean them.
You can also purchase ear plugs to keep the water out.

[Babs]

we have used the Dr opposite the pharmacy at the end of Kalamar Road.....excellent service and advice....squeaky clean!
on the subject of ears, when my children were younger they always went home with ear infections....too much swimming underwater! our Dr here recommends drying ears....with a hairdryer if necessary and dropping in a tiny amount of olive oil to keep the ear clean!

[misty]

We invested in some anatomical fitting ear plugs for my son, cost a few bob more but well worth they keep all the water out allow him to still hear and are comfortable to wear.

[Pembo]

I was ill in the harbour area on my first visit to kalkan in 2000 and within 15 mins i was back in my hotel room and visited by the doctor above Tesko, and he revisited me  the following day. Nothing but admiration!
Also would Suggest a MOONLIGHT CRUISE for the special deed

Pembo

[itstime]

some posts appear to have vanished again. Would it be too much to ask that when this happens that some kind of message is put in it''s place giving broad reason. When posts simply vanish it leads to confusion as replies made to them would seem to have come from nowhere and make the posters ( well at least this poster) look a bit silly

[Enjoy Kalkan]

Hi ItsTime,

People are able to remove their own posts at will. When a post has been removed by the EnjoyKalkan Team it is replaced with the following

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Hope that helps