I've been reading a lot about POTS for which 90% of sufferers are women. The sheer volume of people venting about not getting adequate consideration or treatment is really sad. It got to the point where the community has listings of doctors that are confirmed to understand the condition and take it seriously which is ass backwards considering most people go to the doctor because they have no idea what's wrong with them!

Its sad to think that your friend is "lucky" relative to some to have developed the skills to interpret medical literature and advocate for herself. So many people, and women in particular, seem to get told they are faking it or that their symptoms are psychosomatic and they don't even have the tools, time, or money to advance their own treatment.