Recently diagnosed, but had symptoms since I was twelve.

I remember the first time I went into pre-syncope: It was nine years ago. Back then, the symptoms weren't as frequent. I was on my period-- something I wish I would've recognized sooner as a trigger. It developed into having a hard time eating because of the pain.

A few years later, sophomore year, I was diagnosed with a demyelinating disease. After getting proper treatment I wasn't experiencing pre-syncope as often.

But during college it got worse. I had gone off of my birth control and I was stressing myself out. I couldn't walk from my car to my class without being out of breath. My heart would race for what felt like forever as I tried to relax.

I told my optometrist about seeing stars last year, and she told me that I could have low blood pressure. I started managing it. I looked into POTS and realized that I had a high likelihood of having it since I already had an autoimmune disorder.

In November, I went to a cardiologist. I told him my concerns. I was late to the appointment cause I had an episode while trying to shower. He ordered a tilt table test.

I DIDN'T EVEN LAST 12 MINUTES. I started to complain around the 9 minute mark, but I lost vision around 11 minutes in. I was held there to get my BP and heart rate: 68/45 and 101.

I'm just happy that my concerns were justified, and that I'm not crazy or overreacting. I'm just frustrated that it took so long to figure out.