Excessive yawning??

[LollipopsandWine]

This is a bizarre one and I can't decide if I should see a GP or if I will be wasting their time.

I've been having bouts of excessive yawning for about a month now. I mean yawning once, then again the second I've done it, and that can continue for up to half an hour. Just one after another until I can't even finish the yawn. They leave me with my jaw hurting, eyes streaming, unable to move until it's done.

I ignored them after being diagnosed with Crohn's disease 6 months ago, thinking they were probably part of that/down to fatigue. I started a new job and I tend to work 20-30hrs in a weekend, coming home between 1-2am. I figured I was tired.

But now I have had a week off work. No flare right now. They haven't stopped. They don't even feel the same as tired yawns, they feel more like a spasm. Like hiccups in the way they just come on and you can't stop them. It's interfering with things now, because while it's happening I can't really do anything until it ends. And it's really bloody annoying.

Anybody know what I can do? Home remedies maybe? Or should I see a GP?

Just wondered when do the yawning bouts usually happen? Anytime of day, or a particular time - at work or mainly at home.
Mainly when relaxed/tired in the evenings etc? If it were me I would go to the GP, and hopefully they will shed some light on it.

You haven't started on ssri's recently have you?

Also, are you losing blood through your crohns? Anaemia can lead to excessive yawning - I would go and get it checked.

Yes, like above poster new antidepressant or something illegal?

They are quite random but I find it strangest when it happens around midday as this is probably my most alert period of the day. But honestly it can be any time.
I am (thankfully) not taking SSRIs as they disagree with me, but it is actually reminiscent of the sode effects I had on Seroxat years ago
And yes I do lose blood sometimes, but I have been tested several times now and Dr is still saying I'm not anemic? It was one of my first thoughts though, and I'm taking lots of vitamins and things too because I don't absorb certain foods very well.

Thank you for all your replies - and not telling me I must just be tired!

I was about to post about anemia as well. Yawning can be brought up be not enough oxygen.

Only medication I am on is for my stomach and have been on it months now with no trouble. Nothing for my mood for years, and nothing illegal either. I take 2 tablets a day for my stomach, and extra if it is bad, which it hasn't been in a while now.

chardonnays I heard that, not enough oxygen, but it happened while I was walking to work a couple of weeks ago. Is it possible to be getting not enough oxygen while outside? I have had a heart murmur from birth, could that stop me getting enough oxygen maybe?

Don't know that, I'm afraid. I would mention it to your GP next time you see them.

Are you sleeping ok? Do you snore?

Sleeping like the dead at weekends after long hours, struggling a bit during the week to get to sleep at an earlier time - work has messed with my cycle. I don't snore to the best of my knowledge, DP says I don't.

Hyperventilation syndrome. Your body thinks it's lacking o2 so you yawn/gulp/sigh. The trick is to ignore the sensation and swallow through it. It'll be uncomfortable until your body readjusts its blood gases.

www.buteykoworks.com/blog-hv-correction/blog/blog-hv-correction

Before I was diagnosed with b12 deficiency I sighed a lot, not sure if this can be linked to yawning?

Rainsbow this actually could be it! Thank you for the info :)

I would get your heart checked out to be sure

Lolli I have hvs although I don't yawn, I gulp, obsessively. Get referred to a specialist physio in hvs. They're hard to come by but if you're in Surrey/SW London I can recommend someone fabulous.

I think I'm going to have to get checked just because I'm finding it hard to control it and also with my Crohn's I have esophagitis/massive esophageal reflux. I only thought about it last night but maybe it could be related to that too?
So I will call the GP yes. Thanks for your help everyone! I am not near London unfortunately :/

I also have reflux. The reflux and hvs go hand in hand. I also get a lot of trapped wind and bloating from the two.

Yep, likely HVS/'air hunger'/over-oxigenation - all part of the same thing.
It's not lack of oxygen (the most ancient part of your brain takes care of breathing IN; it's breathing OUT effectively we get wrong), but a gradual and slow build up of 'exhaust' gases caused by not breathing out effectively.
Slow your breathing down, google '7/11 breathing', breathe out longer than you breathe in - it will feel unnatural to start off with but then help the yawning.

And yes, get your reflux sorted and yourself checked out generally of course

Actually the 7/11 breathing technique seems familiar - is that recommended to help with falling asleep/calming anxiety? I've definitely tried it before and found it very bloody difficult! Onto the right track here definitely.

Thank you everyone - will practice breathing properly and also see my consultant too!

Lolli as a hvs sufferer you have my sympathies. For me air gulping is totally subconscious but my stomach tells me about it. I get 9month pregnant looking with the most awful gurgling. My stomach is so bloated it compresses my diaphragm which in turn exacerbates the air hunger and so the cycle continues.

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