What is causing my extreme fatigue and hangover feeling after a viral infection for 6 months? - #29577
21M 5’8 180 pounds lean(Jiu-Jitsu/Gym athlete my whole life) No diseases diagnosed No medications No alcohol No smoking No drugs Please someone help me understand what I have… Extreme fatigue and hangover feeling since I got a viral infection in December.. I had no fever, just congested nose with green mucus, cough, extreme fatigue and malaise. Since I got that I never been the same, had to stop working out and working, before that I had an intense routine of working bouncer in a club nightime 6 days a week 12h/day and intense jiu jitsu or gym training depending on the day. I thought this was a burnout but after being on my home all this time it never gone away, I did bloodwork, vitamins, thyroid and heart check up… everything normal. Doctor told me it must be psychological problems like depression/anxiety but I dont believe that because I feel all of this so physically and not mentally, right now im depressed because I feel like I lost my life yes but it didnt start this way, it was all pure physical. I thought maybe I got ME/CFS but I dont have PEM, if I work out even hard right now, I dont get worse the days after neither do I get better. What is this? What exam should I do? Can it really be depression/anxiety even tho all my symptoms are purely physical? Im gonna do a sleep apnea test this week.. can it be sleep apnea even tho I dont have sleepiness but extreme fatigue despite sleeping 9-10 hours? Please, help me understand what is this, its been 6 months now feeling like a vegetable and I cant handle anymore, I want my life back. Symptoms: Hangover feeling without alcohol Extreme fatigue and weak Feeling poisoned 0 energy I want do things but I cant
How would you describe the intensity of your fatigue?:
- Very severe — unable to functionHave you experienced any other symptoms besides fatigue?:
- Cognitive issues (brain fog)How has your sleep quality been during this time?:
- Frequent awakeningsHave you noticed any changes in your appetite or weight?:
- Decreased appetiteWhat does your typical daily routine look like now?:
- Mostly resting at homeDo you have any history of mental health issues?:
- Mild anxiety or depression in the pastHave you tried any treatments or lifestyle changes to improve your symptoms?:
- Consulted a specialist100% Anonymously
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Doctors' responses
Hello
What you’re describing is very real, and many athletes your age report this exact pattern after a viral illness. A normal basic workup does not rule out physical causes. Six months of severe fatigue with brain fog after an infection most often falls into a group of conditions sometimes called post-viral syndromes, especially Post-viral fatigue syndrome or Long COVID (even if you were never tested), but there are several other medical possibilities that still need to be checked systematically.
The “hangover/poisoned” feeling with normal routine labs strongly suggests nervous system dysregulation, sleep disruption, or hidden inflammation, not simply burnout. Depression and anxiety can cause fatigue, but they typically come with loss of motivation or emotional numbness first; in your story, the physical crash clearly started after an infection, which makes a biological trigger much more likely.
Sleep apnea can absolutely cause severe fatigue even without obvious daytime sleepiness, especially in muscular or athletic men, so doing the sleep study this week is a very good step. Another common cause in young athletes after illness is autonomic dysfunction such as Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which produces fatigue, brain fog, and a “toxic” or hungover feeling despite normal tests. Hormonal issues like low testosterone, iron deficiency without anemia, chronic sinus infection, or viral reactivation (for example Epstein–Barr virus infection) are also frequent culprits that standard screening sometimes misses.
Take care
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