Coping With Fatigue

Lori Lee, head liver nurse at the LAIR Centre talks about coping with fatigue in an article she wrote for issue #176 of The Inside Tract®. Highlights from the article are posted here but to read the full article contact www.badgut.org

Lori Lee Walston, RN

 

 

 

Everyone complains now and then of being tired. But what if you woke up every morning feeling as if you never got a moment of rest? Fatigue is a symptom commonly described by people with liver disease (hepatitis) and can be caused by a variety of other health problems. There is no magic medication, vitamin, or dietary change that will alleviate fatigue completely. There are certain strategies that may make the fatigue more bearable:

. Management (or treatment, if possible) of the cause of hepatitis, if it is present. This depends greatly on the type of hepatitis, which we reviewed in The Inside Tract® newsletter, issue  #175.

. Treatment of secondary conditions such as anemai, sleep disorders, thyroid dysfunction, and depression. When properly monitored by a physician, these conditions will not contribute to the level of fatigue.

.Ask for help from family and friends. Activities such as housework, laundry, and shopping can be divided up easily and spread throughout the week.

.Alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, relaxation, meditation, and massage may help alleviate pain and diminish fatigue.

.Get adequate sleep. Wind down before bed; avoid caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco in the evening; and maintain a regular routine (i.e., go to bed every night at the same time and get up each morning at the same time).

. Eat a well-balanced diet that includes fruit, vegetables, whole grains, and protein. Avoid foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt (sodium).

.Ensure an adequate water intake by drinking fluids throughout the day.  Avoid caffeinated beverages, such as pop, tea, and coffee, as they deplete the body of required fluids.

. Regular exercise done more than 2 hours before bed promotes better quality sleep. Try different kinds of exercise, such as walking, biking, dancing, gardening, swimming, Tai Chi, or yoga.

.A positive attitude can be a very powerful ally when it comes to managing fatigue. It may help you cope more easily with the daily grind of life and the many obstacles that can often occur in life.

Learning to manage fatigue, and not letting it rule your life, will allow you to enjoy the activities of everyday life.

Thanks to Lori Lee for putting this together as a brief of her article in the newsletter.

-RH