Symptomatic: A Medical Mystery Podcast

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How terrifying would it be to fight an unknown enemy? One you don’t recognize and didn’t see coming? What if that enemy was coming from within; a disease that even doctors couldn’t identify? Nearly half of all Americans suffer from some chronic illness and many struggle for an accurate diagnosis.

Every other week on Symptomatic, host Lauren Bright Pacheco unravels the medical mystery of a patient’s baffling symptoms and explores how their lives were turned upside down in search of answers.

From the first signs of trouble, through a swirl of misdirection and failed treatment attempts, to the final relief at a confirmed diagnosis - these are their stories. This is Symptomatic.

And for Season 2, we want to hear from you! Tell us what you think of the show or share your own medical mystery by emailing us at Symptomatic@iHeartMedia.com.

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Our Editor's Take

Symptomatic: A Medical Mystery Podcast explores the stories of those who got sick, but no one knew why. These were people with debilitating and frightening symptoms that overtook their lives. They included anything from significant rashes to face numbness and slurring words. Since the symptoms came and went and had no obvious explanation, it was hard to seek treatment. Doctors didn't believe them and said it was all in the patients' heads. They felt like they were living in a nightmare. The podcast follows the journeys of these people. It tells their accounts from the moment they knew something was wrong until they found out the cause.

Each episode of Symptomatic follows the story of one patient. Over 30 minutes, it conveys a harrowing tale of a person with an unexplained chronic illness. Podcast host Lauren Bright Pacheco speaks to the patient to get their account of the events. She learns about their personality from family members. Then, she uncovers how the illness started and progressed, step by step.

The diagnosis process for podcast guests usually spans years, sometimes even decades. During that time, they see many doctors, and they have to repeat their stories again and again. They get their blood drawn and their bodies X-rayed, and they try endless treatments. Often, doctors dismiss these patients and even call them attention seekers. It all becomes worth it when they find the one physician who will listen and provide an answer. Even if there isn't a cure, knowing the name of the disease can give some comfort.

Symptomatic: A Medical Mystery Podcast is for people who like detective stories. Both patients and physicians play the role of detectives here, trying to figure out the elusive illness. The podcast might also interest people who suffer from chronic diseases themselves. The stories are sympathetic and show listeners that there is hope, even after years of suffering.

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Society & CultureSociety & Culture

Play Trailer

Symptomatic is Back!

Symptomatic is Back!

Join Lauren Bright Pacheco for an all-new season of “Symptomatic” starting Tuesday, October 3rd.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episodes

Case #16: Lauren

Case #16: Lauren

Lauren is a professionally trained dancer whose biggest strength has always been finding expression and connection through movement. However, as she pursued her college career, she felt her body slowing down. Simple exercises became challenging, and her flexibility turned into stiffness. Lauren’s condition worsened after having children, and she periodically had to rely on crutches to accommodate her growing immobility. She was desperate for a doctor who could help her. Without a proper diagnosis, she was being torn between maintaining her two passions: dancing and family.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Case #15: Eliza

Case #15: Eliza

For decades, Eliza dismissed her GI flare-ups and irritated skin. But after the birth of her first child, her concerns escalated, fearing she might faint while caring for her baby. She turned to her sister, who had paralleling symptoms, to explore any potential connection between their experiences. Ignoring the burning pains for so long, Eliza and her doctors dive into her symptomatic past and family history. They uncover a diagnosis that would restore normalcy in her life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Case #14: Maria

Case #14: Maria

Maria is a neurological specialist who became a patient herself when she noticed problems with her mobility. She started to experience cramps in her hands that soon prevented her from driving or tying her shoes. As she saw her ability to care for her patients gradually decline, she faced the skepticism of her colleagues and the fear of not finding a diagnosis. Maria raced to get answers before she lost not only her profession but her whole way of life, as well.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Case #13: Alisha

Case #13: Alisha

At just 7 years old, Alisha was diagnosed with plaque psoriasis - a condition that manifested in overwhelming flare-ups, covering nearly 90% of her body. Enduring both the physical toll and the harsh judgment of ignorant peers and their parents, she became so self-conscious about showing her skin. She would wear long sleeves in the middle of summer, would never go to the beach, and even feared she would never again be able to feel rain on her skin again. Alisha goes on a long, desperate journey to find a treatment for this disease, seeking not only physical relief but also respite from the mental and emotional trauma of living with psoriasis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Symptomatic Speaks - UPDATE on Case #09: Michele

Symptomatic Speaks - UPDATE on Case #09: Michele

In this bonus segment, host Lauren Bright Pacheco checks in with Michele from Case #09 to share feedback from the Symptomatic community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Case #12: Chris

Case #12: Chris

After going through a challenging divorce and relocating cross country, Chris was struggling with depression and anxiety. For a while, he simply ignored his GI symptoms as they progressively got worse. His bowel issues were soon preventing him from living the life he loved: hiking, attending concerts, and participating in activities with his kids. The situation deteriorated to the point where he had to be rushed to the ER multiple times, sure he was having a heart attack. However, the reality was far more complex.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Case #11: Jerad

Case #11: Jerad

Jerad had been battling an overwhelming amount of stress while juggling PhD studies, early parenthood, and work with the Minnesota Judicial System. Slowly losing his energy and ability to make it through day-to-day activities, he knew his developing condition meant something even bigger than just stress at work. With his wife’s fierce advocacy, Jerad hurried to find the source of his symptoms before permanent damage was done.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Case #10: Chuck & Dr. Kastner

Case #10: Chuck & Dr. Kastner

Suffering from incessant fevers, muscle pain, and mysterious nodules across his body for nine years, Chuck's hope was fading. No doctor could explain his sporadic flu-like symptoms. Then, he crossed paths with Dr. Daniel Kastner, an unconventional and brilliant physician with a unique approach to disease research. Together with his colleagues at the National Institutes of Health, their groundbreaking discovery might just hold the key to Chuck's medical mystery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Case #09: Michele

Case #09: Michele

After the birth of her first child, Michele was hit with the onset of sporadic tingling and numbness on alternating sides of her face. Despite enduring years of the mysterious symptoms, she had given up hope of finding the root cause. Michele eventually built up walls of shame because of the uncontrollable flare-ups. It was the concern of her family and the unwavering support of her new partner that would reignite her hunt for a proper diagnosis.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Symptomatic is Back!

Symptomatic is Back!

Join Lauren Bright Pacheco for an all-new season of “Symptomatic” starting Tuesday, October 3rd.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Case #08: August

Case #08: August

Suffering from inexplicable sores & excruciating pain since he was 5 years old, August searched to uncover what plagued so many years of his life and threatened his mobility. His dreams of a musical theater career quickly faded away as his condition worsened, so August decided to challenge the constant silencing of his symptoms and fight the cause of the irreversible physical damage. * * * * * * ****** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ****** If you’re looking for more information on Behcet’s, you can check out the American Behcet’s Disease Association by heading to www.behcets.com. You can also find August Rocha on Instagram & TikTok @WithLoveAugust.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kam is rapidly losing her motor skills as she’s attacked by an unknown & unseen disease. In a matter of months, she goes from starring on her high school soccer team to struggling to make it up the stairs. Bouncing between doctors and facing countless misdiagnoses, Kam never wavers in her chase to uncover what is threatening to take away her mobility. * * * * * * ****** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ****** For more information on GNE Myopathy go to CureGNEM.org and check out the first ever GNE myopathy clinic at UC Irvine’s neuromuscular center led by one of Dr. Korb’s colleagues. You can also find Kam Redlawsk on Instagram & Twitter @KamRedlawsk. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Case #06: Antoinette

Case #06: Antoinette

Diagnosed at a young age, Antoinette has dealt with Sickle Cell all her life. It’s not until she’s older that she realizes her Sickle Cell is unlike any case her doctor has seen before. With deliberating symptoms and multiple crises, Antoinette turns to her doctor for a life changing diagnosis. * * * * * * ****** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ****** To find out more information on Sickle Cell disease visit the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America at sicklecelldisease.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kyle was in the ER for a break or sprain almost every month. The injuries were too frequent & too severe to be written off as Kyle just being an active kid. There was something larger at work here. Doctors found a growth on Kyle’s spine that thrusts him onto a rollercoaster ride trying to find the source of the problem before permanent damage is done. * * * * * * ****** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ****** To find out more information on EDS visit the Ehlers-Danlos Society at ehlers-danlos.com or listen to Dr. Bluestein’s podcast - Bendy Bodies with the Hypermobility MD - wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Case #04: Shelby

Case #04: Shelby

Shelby was a freshman in college when she got mono - something that, though draining, is very common in school-age kids. But her mono wasn’t like anything her friends or family had ever seen before. As her condition turns life-threatening, stumped doctors search for answers before it is too late for her or her unborn child. * * * * * * ****** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ****** To find out more information on POTS, visit StandingUpToPOTS.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zach was your average 11-year-old who loved pizza, sports, and going fishing with his Dad until an incident at a baseball game changed his life forever. As an illness quickly takes hold and wreaks havoc on his body, it’s a race against the clock to figure out what’s happening and save Zach’s life. * * * * * * ****** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ****** To find out more information on Sepsis, visit Sepsis.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Case #02: Athena

Case #02: Athena

As a young teenager, Athena began experiencing pimple-like abscesses in various areas of her body. For years, doctors attributed the painful lesions to poor hygiene, shaming Athena into internalizing and enduring her chronic inflammatory condition in silence. Pushing through pain, embarrassment and self-blame, Athena meets a young doctor who finally gives her hope - and a name - for her disorder. * * * * * * ************ SPOILER ALERT BELOW ************ If you’re looking for more information on Hidradenitis Suppurativa, you can check out the Hidradenitis Suppurativa Foundation by heading to HS-Foundation.org. You can also explore Athena Gierbolini’s work with Hope for HS. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Case #01: Nyobie

Case #01: Nyobie

Nyobie grew up knowing there was something different about her body. As a young woman, she was plagued by unexplained symptoms doctors initially dismissed as part of puberty. But persistent pain and swelling in her arms and legs were just the beginning of her battle. After 19 years of being silenced and misled, Nyobie finally found a life-changing doctor - and diagnosis. * * * * * * ****** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ****** If you’re looking for more information on Lupus, you can check out the Lupus Foundation of America by heading to Lupus.org. You can also learn more about Nyobie Gordon-Rick and the work of National Health Educator Leticia Ocaña.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Symptomatic: A Medical Mystery Podcast

Welcome to Symptomatic: A Medical Mystery Podcast

Nearly half of all Americans suffer from a chronic illness and many struggle for an accurate diagnosis. Welcome to “Symptomatic: A Medical Mystery Podcast,” a brand new podcast from iHeartRadio. Each week, host Lauren Bright Pacheco (Happy Face, Murder in Oregon) unravels the medical mystery of a patient’s baffling symptoms and explores how their lives were turned upside down in search of answers. From the first signs of trouble, through a swirl of misdirection and failed treatment attempts, to the final relief at a confirmed diagnosis - these are their stories. Listen to the first episode of “Symptomatic: A Medical Mystery Podcast" on October 10th, 2022.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.