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Nagging, fatigue-related hunger, anyone?
I’ve experienced the Covid-related weight gain reported by others: 12 pounds (7%) over 6 months. This might have been caused by feeling hungry (and eating) every 1-2 hours in spite of little physical activity.
The hunger is driven by a feeling of significant fatigue and depletion that needs more than rest to address that depletion. And that feeling of significant fatigue occurs every 1-2 hours.
I’m guessing that it’s a detection-and-response error. Covid-fatigue is being detected (mistakenly) as true fatigue resulting from intense mental or muscular work, and the appetite management system is generating the feeling of hunger so that I’ll eat to replenish the energy stores that were depleted by that [illusory] bout of “intense work.”
This view is simply my guess. I couldn’t find it addressed in the scientific literature. It will help me to know if others have experienced this Covid-related “nagging hunger” phenomenon. Has anyone?
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Since developing three autoimmune disorders after Covid infections, I have noticed that I need frequent small servings of extra protein to relieve the fatigue. I had been losing instead of gaining weight though. I’m also on prednisone which stimulates hunger . Seems like all the resulting inflammation uses so much of the body’s energy, and I react to foods that I never did before. This causes me to have to choose foods carefully. I did a three week elimination diet and found that Gluten sensitivity has been the main consistent culprit.
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2 ReactionsThank you for your comment on my posting re: “nagging hunger.” I had focused more on carbs than protein, but will try emphasizing protein instead.
I salute your diligent investigations. May your health steadily improve!
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1 ReactionYes, I am subject to bouts of excessive fatigue, even after getting a good night's sleep. Protein helps more than anything and keeping my liquids up helps too - especially an electrolyte soltuion. I drink a quart of an electrolyte solution about once a day. I get the electrolyte powder either at Costco or on Amazon; it is readily available.
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3 ReactionsThank you for the recommendation of protein and electrolytes to combat excessive fatigue. I'll gather some information about electrolyte solutions which I've never used before.
May we all move forward on the road to recovery...!
I sometimes wonder if some of my fatigue-related hunger comes from my body not regulating blood sugar levels well. Low blood sugars exacerbating fatigue.
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1 ReactionGreat! And please post what you find out about electrolytes. I'm glad you are doing this research. It will benefit us all.
For me, the fatigue does get worse when I experience hunger, but shouldn’t really be hungry. Also have done the protein bars. Sometimes it helps, sometimes not. Yes, I did put on weight after getting Covid twice, but I also ended up having to get my gallbladder removed in 2022.
Here is food for thought. If you have POTS, your fatigue gets worse if you skip a meal. Hard to get a POTS diagnosis since only a small number of cardiologists have the expertise to make the call. POTS cardiologists are booked out the wazoo because of Covid induced POTS. Like 2 years plus for an appointment. I have one scheduled at Duke, but they can’t get me in until March of 2026. It’s crazy.
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