Medical Mysteries by Sandra G. Boodman
The Washington Post's Sandra G. Boodman is looking for challenging medical cases--ones that have been resolved but in which the patient's symptoms were puzzling to doctors or suggested an immediate diagnosis that would have been wrong.
Even after she got rid of her cat, Air Force Staff Sgt. Jean McCathern’s asthma kept getting worse.
About Medical Mysteries
The Washington Post's Sandra G. Boodman is looking for challenging medical cases--ones that have been resolved but in which the patient's symptoms were puzzling to doctors or suggested an immediate diagnosis that would have been wrong. Patients must have medical records documenting their care, and must be willing to share them with a reporter. Please include day and evening phone numbers and an e-mail address. E-mail medicalmysteries@washpost.com with your name and details. Please put "Medical Mystery" in the subject line.
Jet lag and a hectic life were not the cause of a woman’s exhaustion
A boy’s serious ailment required only a simple fix once it was diagnosed
Medical Mysteries: ‘I opened my laptop and my eyes snapped shut’
A man’s persistent headache proves hard to diagnose and harder to treat
Medical mysteries: Was crying caused by man’s severe depression?
Medical Mysteries: It wasn’t the vaccine — so why did baby have seizures?
Medical Mystery: Preparation for surgery revealed cause of deteriorating eyesight
Medical Mysteries: Abdominal pain has been diagnosed, but it’s not curable
Medical Mystery: Giving birth didn’t ease a woman’s dangerous hypertension
Medical Mystery: What explained second-grader’s sudden panic and obsessions?
Medical Mysteries: A tiny baby who didn’t grow
Risky Business
Medical Mystery: Alcoholism didn’t cause man’s diabetes and cirrhosis
Common symptom, uncommon cause
Woman endured years of troubling spells before their cause was recognized
Breathless, but not from asthma
Medical Mysteries: A Teen's Swollen Ankle
Medical Mysteries: Infant's monitor kept shrieking, but doctors didn't know why
(The Washington Post,
July 2, 2012; 2:41 PM)
(The Washington Post,
May 21, 2012; 3:34 PM)
(The Washington Post,
April 23, 2012; 4:21 PM)
(The Washington Post,
March 19, 2012; 3:56 PM)
(The Washington Post,
February 20, 2012; 3:45 PM)
(The Washington Post,
January 30, 2012; 4:29 PM)
(The Washington Post,
December 19, 2011; 1:01 PM)
(The Washington Post,
November 28, 2011; 11:50 AM)
(The Washington Post,
October 17, 2011; 4:22 PM)
(The Washington Post,
September 26, 2011; 2:51 PM)
(The Washington Post,
August 29, 2011; 4:28 PM)
(The Washington Post,
July 25, 2011; 3:35 PM)
(The Washington Post,
June 13, 2011; 6:25 PM)
(The Washington Post,
May 16, 2011; 6:03 PM)
(The Washington Post,
April 25, 2011; 6:15 PM)
(The Washington Post,
March 28, 2011; 3:00 PM)
(Edition,
February 21, 2011; 10:56 AM)
(Edition,
January 17, 2011; 11:32 AM)
