3 Tips for Energy with Hepatitis C Fatigue

As with any advice, take it with a grain of salt. The three tips I’m sharing in this article are my experience with the severe fatigue caused by hepatitis C.

Before I even received the diagnosis, I knew something was off with my energy levels. At the time, I was a young adult that worked out and ate healthily, so having such drastic energy crashes was rather alarming.

It started innocently, waking up tired day after day even when I slept an entire night. I couldn’t understand why I was so sleepy but attributed it to my busy lifestyle and stress.

With time, however, the sleepy mornings progressed into sleepy days. I’d fall asleep during my classes at school, could hardly make it through my after-school soccer practice, would be ready for sleep by 9:00 pm, and sleeping through multiple alarms.

The most terrifying was I started to fall asleep while driving.

Lifestyle changes for more energy

Now, while there are many medical reasons for such severe fatigue, it’s ultimately the exhaustion our body experiences from battling such a brutal virus. Our hormones, organs, and internalized systems all take a blow from the battle, and we feel the consequences physically.

This fatigue is also mental, though with what can feel like a sluggish mind. I remember feeling so incredibly exhausted, not only in my body but in my mind too.

Unable to focus, loss of memory, hazy, and just generally checked out.

What I came to realize with time is that while I couldn’t solve the fatigue overnight, I could start to shift my lifestyle. This meant finding the right foods to fuel me, embracing as much rest as possible, and engaging in activities and workouts that gave me energy rather than depleting it.

This looked like eating blood sugar-balancing meals filled with healthy carbs, fats, proteins, and veggies. I made sure to eat enough for energy throughout the day and discovered that my body feels best with nutrient-dense meals and snacks every 3-4 hours.

If possible, working with an anti-diet dietician or nutritionist is a great way to optimize food!

The best methods for a better nights sleep

Going to bed early and optimizing my sleep helped give my body a proper night's reset. With the insight of my doctor, I started taking a magnesium supplement and noticed a significant improvement in sleep quality.

I also got serious about a nighttime routine to unwind and let my body and mind start to relax before bed.

This looked like putting my phone on ‘Do Not Disturb’ about 30 minutes before bed, taking a hot shower or bath, and then reading a few pages of a mellow book, such as poetry or a slow-paced novel.

Increasing your energy level

Regarding exercise, I started to cut back on high-intensity workouts that sucked my energy and opted for low impact, strength, yoga, or walking instead. These workouts got my blood flowing, gave me a dopamine spike, and energized me without overworking my already taxed systems.

At the end of that day, you must find what works best for you. Experiment by removing lifestyle factors that might be an energy drain while adding practices (or foods) that may be an energy boost.

Pay attention to how you feel throughout the day. With time, you’ll discover how to optimize your energy, even amid severe fatigue.