This Year on Symptomatic (2024)

Summary

Symptomatic: A Medical Mystery Podcast – Episode: This Year on Symptomatic (2024)
Release Date: October 8, 2024
Host: Lauren Bright Pacheco

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Introduction to Medical Mysteries

In this episode of Symptomatic, host Lauren Bright Pacheco delves deeper into the complexities of chronic illnesses and the elusive nature of accurate diagnoses. Continuing the podcast’s mission, Lauren highlights the emotional and physical turmoil faced by patients battling unknown diseases that even seasoned medical professionals struggle to identify.

Patient Experiences: The Journey Through Uncertainty

Early Symptoms and Initial Struggles The episode opens with patients sharing their bewildering initial symptoms:

• Patient A describes, “I started slurring my words a little bit. A gait or a limp. Started developing just intense chest pain” (00:03).
• Patient C adds, “My bones were literally aching” (00:14).
• Patient D mentions, “I noticed lumps and bumps in my neck” (00:20).

These accounts underscore the perplexing and often nonspecific nature of early symptomatology that complicates diagnosis.

Emotional Toll and Isolation Lauren captures the emotional landscape of these patients:

• Describing uncertainty (00:34), isolation (00:42), and breakthrough (00:50) moments.
• Patient C reflects, “I’m not even sure if I could describe it. Well, it almost just felt like I was. I wasn’t living” (00:36), highlighting the profound sense of isolation.
• Patient F shares, “I stopped going to the doctor. I stopped trying to find treatments. Nothing was working” (00:44), illustrating the despair that can accompany unresolved health issues.

Hope and Determination Amidst the struggles, patients express a fervent desire to overcome their ailments:

• Patient A questions, “Can I fight this? Can I beat this?” (01:19)
• Patient A again states, “I’m dying here. Let’s try something else” (01:23)

These moments emphasize the resilience and determination that drive patients to seek answers despite mounting challenges.

Innovative Medical Insights: Highlights from ASCO 2024

Lauren transitions to an insightful segment recorded live from the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting, focusing on advancements in breast cancer treatment.

Expert Opinions and Breakthroughs

• Doctor G shares a poignant perspective: “Often patients will say to me, I don't care what happens to my body. I just want to live. Hold on. I care what happens to your body because in six months, you're going to be really mad at me when you start to be a person again, your whole self” (01:56). This underscores the importance of comprehensive care that addresses both physical and emotional well-being.

Impact of Research and Nonprofit Efforts The discussion highlights the significant contributions of doctors-turned-patients in pioneering research:

• Patient D talks about the nonprofit Every Cure, aiming to “unlock the life-saving potential of every FDA approved medication to treat every disease that it possibly can” (02:44).

This initiative reflects a commitment to expanding treatment options and making life-saving medications accessible to a broader population.

Reconnecting with Longtime Contributors

Kelly Athena Gierbert’s Inspiring Journey Lauren welcomes back Kelly Athena Gierbert, a previous guest who has shown remarkable progress:

• Kelly remarks, “I’m so excited to be back here” (03:02).
• She proudly shares her current state: “I’m in the best health, probably of my life” (03:11).

Kelly’s story serves as an inspiring testament to the possibilities of recovery and improved health outcomes.

Introducing New Voices: Jose’s Story The episode also introduces Jose, who exemplifies leadership and resilience:

• Patient F recounts, “I volunteered as a counselor for 10 years… if these kids are doing it, then why can't I?” (03:30).

Jose’s narrative highlights the reciprocal nature of support and inspiration within the patient community.

Community Impact and Future Directions

Building a Supportive Community Lauren reflects on the growth and impact of Symptomatic:

• “Since launching Symptomatic, we've been thrilled to see how this show resonates so deeply with everyone. So proud of the supportive community our audience and doctors have built” (03:46).

This statement underscores the podcast’s role in fostering a network of support and shared experiences among listeners and medical professionals.

Commitment to Unraveling Medical Mysteries The episode concludes with a reaffirmation of the podcast’s mission:

• Lauren invites listeners to continue tuning in, stating, “Join us for all new episodes of Symptomatic, where we delve into the medical unknown and bring light to the mysteries of chronic illness” (03:46).

Final Reflections from Contributors

• Kelly Athena Gierbert emphasizes her long-term struggle and perseverance: “For over 12 years, I suffered with a mysterious illness. I struggled with misdiagnoses of a previously undiagnosed disease” (04:16).

Conclusion

Symptomatic: A Medical Mystery Podcast continues to illuminate the often-hidden battles of those with chronic and undiagnosed illnesses. Through heartfelt patient stories, expert insights from medical conferences, and the unwavering support of its community, the podcast serves as a beacon of hope and understanding for listeners navigating their own health challenges.

Listeners are encouraged to share their own medical mysteries or feedback by emailing [e-mail] and to subscribe via the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or their preferred podcast platform.

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Listen to the full episode on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app to explore these compelling medical journeys in detail.

Transcript

[Patient A]

I started slurring my words a little bit. A gait or a limp. Started developing just intense chest pain.

[Kelly Athena Gierbert]

And I remember just having these tiny little pimples.

[Patient C]

My bones were literally aching.

[Kelly Athena Gierbert]

My scalp is tingly and my face feels numb.

[Patient D]

I noticed lumps and bumps in my neck.

[Kelly Athena Gierbert]

I would describe it as like an elephant syndrome.

[Patient A]

I was coughing a lot. Never felt extreme. Like food, poison.

[Kelly Athena Gierbert]

Something just didn't feel right.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Uncertainty.

[Patient C]

I'm not even sure if I could describe it. Well, it almost just felt like I was. I wasn't living.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Isolation.

[Patient F]

I stopped going to the doctor. I stopped trying to find treatments. Nothing was working.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Breakthrough.

[Patient D]

You couldn't imagine that anyone could be alive and have a mutation in that gene.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

I'm Lauren Bright Pacheco, host of Symptomatic, a medical mystery podcast. Every episode, we investigate the medical mysteries behind someone's truly baffling symptoms, revealing how the quest for answers transforms the lives of everyday people. Am I just a person who's sick? Is that all I am?

[Patient A]

Can I fight this? Can I beat this?

[Kelly Athena Gierbert]

It's almost like I was a different person.

[Patient A]

I'm dying here. Let's try something else.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

How do I live? And this year, Symptomatic is bigger than ever. Making connections across the country, we took our show on the road, getting to know some of the most innovative doctors in their fields. Today we're recording from the 2024 ASCO annual meeting, talking about breast cancer.

[Doctor G]

Often patients will say to me, I don't care what happens to my body. I just want to live. Hold on. I care what happens to your body because in six months, you're going to be really mad at me when you start to be a person again, your whole self. If the first thing you think of when you walk out of the shower is your breast cancer.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

We featured a doctor turned patient leading groundbreaking disease research, giving millions access to treatment options they never thought possible.

[Patient D]

For every patient like Gary, for every patient like Kyla, who's getting ready to go off to college because we discovered a drug to save her life just before she would have passed. And each one of those patients has just led us to say, we are so happy we did this for them. But how many more? They're out there. And so Grant and I launched this nonprofit called Every Cure. And we are on a mission to.

[Patient A]

Unlock the life saving potential of every FDA approved medication to treat every disease that it possibly can.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

And we're also catching up with some old friends. Hey, Athena. Hi. So good to see you.

[Kelly Athena Gierbert]

Good to see you too, Lauren. I'm so excited to be back here.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

I can't believe it's been this long. You were our second episode. It was 2022.

[Kelly Athena Gierbert]

Yeah. Really good to be able to do this follow up from such a good place. I'm happy to report that I'm in the best health, probably of my life.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

And we're making some new friends like Jose, who, through his unique experiences, leads by example for others facing their own struggles.

[Patient F]

I volunteered as a counselor for 10 years, and, you know, the kids are always so grateful to the counselors there. But, like, if these kids are doing it, then why can't I? I'm sure they look at us in reverse, like, oh, they're older, they're living with what I have, they're successful, then I can do it, too.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Since launching Symptomatic, we've been thrilled to see how this show resonates so deeply with everyone. So proud of the supportive community our audience and doctors have built, and we're excited to see it continue to grow. Join us for all new episodes of Symptomatic, where we delve into the medical unknown and bring light to the mysteries of chronic illness.

[Kelly Athena Gierbert]

My name is Kelly Athena Gierbert, donor. And for 19 years, for 15 years, for over 12 years, I suffered with a mysterious illness. I struggled with. I struggled with misdiagnoses of a previously.

[Lauren Bright Pacheco]

Undiagnosed disease, an unknown disease. This is symptomatic. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get the stories that matter to.