One of the most common and debilitating symptoms among individuals with liver disease is fatigue. In some patients, fatigue begins several years after the diagnosis of liver disease is made. In others, it was the primary reason for seeking medical attention. In such individuals multiple visits are made to a variety of physicians in search of a cause of their extreme lassitude.
Some patients even seek psychiatric evaluation, as an accompanying symptom is often depression.
Fatigue may occur at any time of day but is most common in the morning about an hour after awakening. By 9 a.m. one may already feel the exhaustion of a full workday. Others describe weakness and a lack of energy throughout the entire day. Even little tasks become more trying and around 4 p.m., they simply must lie down to take a nap. The treatment of fatigue can be challenging.