4. Fatigue: More Than Just Daily Tiredness
When it comes to Hepatitis C, fatigue isn’t just your run-of-the-mill tiredness. It’s an engulfing wave of exhaustion that seems relentless. This isn’t the kind of fatigue that follows a long day of work or a poor night’s sleep. Instead, it lingers and gnaws at one’s energy levels, leaving them perpetually drained.
Imagine waking up after a full night’s rest and still feeling completely sapped of energy. It’s an exhaustion that coffee can’t cure and nap-time won’t shake off. This exhaustion is deeply rooted, stemming from the virus’s impact on liver function and the body’s immune response.
Understanding the depth of this fatigue can be tricky. Many sufferers find it hard to describe just how sapped they feel, equating the sensation to wading through thick mud. Every task feels Herculean, every action demanding an unaffordable amount of energy.
Of course, fatigue can manifest for a variety of reasons, and its presence alone isn’t an outright Hepatitis C diagnosis. But when combined with other symptoms on this list, it provides a more complete picture. Recognizing its severity and persistence can provide valuable insights into the body’s overall state.
Some Hepatitis C patients report that their fatigue ebbs and flows, with some days better than others. However, the overall theme remains: a deep-seated exhaustion that doesn’t seem justified by daily activities. (4)
