Joan (not her real name), a housewife from Co Tipperary, started suffering from regular blackouts 18 years ago.
Having travelled to Cork to visit a specialist, Joan was diagnosed as suffering from what is called "lifelong" epilepsy and was immediately prescribed medication to control the condition.
Originally taking just one tablet a day, this was later increased to five. The medication left her lethargic, with little or no energy.
"I was absolutely exhausted," she recalls. "One hour after getting up I would have to lie down again."
Also, as an epileptic, Joan was unable to drive. Living in a rural part of Tipperary meant she was often isolated at her home in the country.
A visit to a different specialist in Kilkenny earlier this year gave her hope. The specialist told Joan she may have been misdiagnosed and referred her to the falls and blackout unit in St James's.
After a full assessment, Joan was found to suffer from vasovagal syncope, a non-serious condition that causes a drop in blood pressure, leading to decreased blood flow to the brain and resulting in dizziness or fainting.
Treatment does not require medication but merely involves some minor lifestyle changes including increasing fluid intake.
Joan had previously been on a low-sodium diet but has now increased her salt intake in an effort to raise her blood pressure. She also drinks more than two litres of water each day.
Since stopping the medication, Joan says she has lost over a stone and a half in weight and is driving again.
She is now focused on making up for the past 18 years. "I'm a completely different person. I have energy now."
Sylvia Thompson