Symptomatic: A Medical Mystery Podcast

In peak health, Scott Collin’s life took a drastic turn when a rare disease nearly claimed it all. Initially misdiagnosed and dismissed, his symptoms escalated into a near-fatal episode, revealing the true extent of his condition. Forced to confront challenges affecting his heart, lungs, and more, Scott’s journey became one of resilience and survival against all odds.

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In this bonus episode, we introduce Symptomatic: House Calls. Throughout Season 3, we will reconnect with past guests to get updates on how they’ve been managing their conditions and how their lives have changed since appearing on the show.

For our first House Call, we revisit Athena from Case #2. As a young teenager, Athena began experiencing painful, pimple-like abscesses that were misdiagnosed for years.

Spoiler alert in case you haven’t listened to this episode…

Athena was eventually diagnosed with Hidradenitis Suppurativa, a chronic inflammatory condition. Join host Lauren Bright Pacheco as she catches up with Athena to hear exciting life updates and her latest experiences living with HS. Discover the challenges she’s faced, the progress she’s made, and the significant moments that have shaped her life.

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In her early 30s, Kelly DuBois was suddenly plagued by a series of inexplicable health issues, from severe heartburn to rapid weight gain, leaving doctors utterly baffled. Misdiagnosed and even subjected to brain surgery, Kelly’s journey took a shocking turn with an unexpected genetic revelation.

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At 18, Jose Torres faced a whirlwind of hospital visits, severe abdominal pain, and debilitating fatigue. Having already given up his dream of becoming a professional boxer and now risking his education, Jose was desperate for answers. At his lowest point, the fighter in him emerged, pushing him and his mom to seek solutions before the unknown illness could take even more from his life.

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Uncertainty. Isolation. Breakthrough. Symptomatic returns with new episodes starting October 15th!

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About 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime. Join Lauren Bright Pacheco at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago, as she investigates the advancements in prostate cancer care.  Dr. Mohammad Atiq shares ways innovative treatments are paving the way for better outcomes.

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Gary Gravina, a skilled carpenter and Marine, was rushed to the ER in 2016 due to severe flu-like symptoms which morphed into a brutal battle with a mysterious disease. Discover how Gary's dire condition would lead him to Dr. David Fajgenbaum and Dr. Grant Mitchell, who had become experts on his rare disease. See how their collaboration not only saved Gary’s life but also significantly impacted the field of medicine.

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Dr. David Fajgenbaum, once a college quarterback and competitive weightlifter, turned medical researcher, was the picture of health until he became critically ill at the age of 25. After all available treatments failed to keep him out of the ICU, David, with his friend Grant’s help, races to save his own life, repurposing existing drugs to find a cure.

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Did you know 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in their lifetime? Join Lauren Bright Pacheco for a special episode from the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago, where she dives into the best collaborative approach to breast cancer diagnoses and care. Medical oncologist, Dr. Nan Chen, and breast cancer surgeon, Dr. Sarah Shubeck share how their teamwork benefits breast cancer treatment.

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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.

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To find out more on psoriatic arthritis you can check out the Arthritis Foundation’s website at Arthritis.org. You can also find Lauren Scholl on Instagram @CoachScholl.

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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.

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You can find out more about celiac disease and Dr. Green’s work on Columbia’s Celiac Center website: CeliacDiseaseCenter.Columbia.edu. You can also find his book Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic and Eliza Minot’s incredible catalog wherever books are sold. 

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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.

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To learn more about Maria’s journey, check out her books, including Parkinson’s Diva. And for more information on the condition visit the Parkinson’s Foundation website at Parkinson.org. 

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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.

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If you’re looking for more information on plaque psoriasis, go to the National Psoriasis Foundation’s website at Psoriasis.org. You can also learn more through the Global Healthy Living Foundation at GHLF.org and follow Alisha Bridges on Instagram @AlishaMBridges.

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In this bonus segment, host Lauren Bright Pacheco checks in with Michele from Case #09 to share feedback from the Symptomatic community.

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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.

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To find out more about Alpha-gal syndrome, you can check out the CDC’s website at CDC.gov or check out AlphaGalInformation.org. 

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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.

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If you’d like to follow Jerad Green's story you can find him on Instagram @HeartFailureHotTakes.

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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.

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If you’re looking for more information on VEXAS and to learn about Dr. Kastner's work, go to the National Institutes of Health's website at NIH.gov. 

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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.

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Join Lauren Bright Pacheco for an all-new season of “Symptomatic” starting Tuesday, October 3rd.

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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.

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If you’re looking for more information on Behcet’s, you can check out the American Behcet’s Disease Association by heading towww.behcets.com. You can also findAugust Rocha onInstagram &TikTok @WithLoveAugust.

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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To find out more information on Sickle Cell disease visit the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America at sicklecelldisease.org.

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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To find out more information on POTS, visit StandingUpToPOTS.org.

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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.

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To find out more information on Sepsis, visit Sepsis.org.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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