Yawning

[GaryM]

Has anyone found a way of reducing the frequency of yawning? These hippo yawns are driving me round the bend. It's not so much the yawn as trying to avoid my front teeth hitting each other with incredible force when my jaw snaps shut. I must be getting about 30 to 50 a day. I know baclofen can reduce them but that has other effects that I'm wary of at the moment. I suppose I could sit all day with a piece of foam rubber in my mouth.

[Ellie]

Gary, don't suppose you have started taking an SSRI medicine (eg Citalopram or Amitriptyline) which have triggered the frequent yawns?

Some antipsychotic meds can stop frequent yawning but they are way more potent than Baclofen... x

[GaryM]

No, I'm not taking anything other than Riluzole and hyoscine patch. Had these yawns for months. Just getting a bit sick of them. Maybe I'm not getting enough sleep. As a normal person I'm sure I would only yawn once or twice a day at most. Going for a sit in the sun soon. I don't think I yawn when I'm outside. 🤔

[Nettie]

I have the same problem Gary, it drives me mad and when it makes my jaw click and sends searing pain through my ear 🥴 x

[Suefromwakey]

Gary, Nettie - On occassion I suffer from this stupid yawning saga but I don't have MND - I find if I swill my face with cold water it does the trick - has to be cold though, might be worth a try?

[Ellie]

Excessive yawning in MND is part of bulbar involvement unfortunately - you'll miss it in a perverse way when it stops.

I mentioned SSRIs as excessive yawning can be a side effect.

And yes, what a glorious day 🌞

[GaryM]

Well, as I thought no yawning at all when outside. I've had another thought, as I've recently stopped oral feeding and gone to exclusive PEG, I've cut back on caffeinated drinks. I used to have about five cups of tea or coffee a day and now I have just two through the PEG. Maybe it's just my body trying to stay alert without the stimulants.

[slp]

I take Baclofen and have done for 9 years and I am not aware of any side effects but it does stop my yawns..

I have been out in the garden planting with my son. If you can keep out of the chilly wind it was beautiful in the sun.
I am not sure if he's planted them the right way up but time will tell

[Ellie]

Well, as I thought no yawning at all when outside.

How interesting. 🤔 Fresh air vis-à-vis breathing and gas exchange, perhaps – whatever the reason, let’s hope fore nice spring weather so you can sit outside and get relief! I wonder if a fan or sitting by an open window indoors would help?

Maybe it's just my body trying to stay alert without the stimulants.

There’s an experiment, should you wish to try - put those drinks, or similar, through the tube to see if it helps.

[GaryM]

How interesting. 🤔 Fresh air vis-à-vis breathing and gas exchange, perhaps – whatever the reason, let’s hope fore nice spring weather so you can sit outside and get relief! I wonder if a fan or sitting by an open window indoors would help?


There’s an experiment, should you wish to try - put those drinks, or similar, through the tube to see if it helps.

The act of posting the question made me think about it a bit more. I think I might be pushing my luck with any more stuff going through the PEG. Louise is already putting six bottles of feed, one dose of riluzole and two cuppas through it every day. I think she feels like she's permanently attached to it. 😉

[Ellie]

Stick an effervescent Berocca into one of the cuppas 😉

[slp]

Ellie that is not a bad idea x I would love to know what other people do put through their peg x

[GaryM]

Stick an effervescent Berocca into one of the cuppas 😉

Errm, maybe not. I was slightly anaemic when I started on this journey. I'm not sure whether I still am. Consultants and GP seem to have forgotten about that and I suppose so had I. Maybe that's something to chase up.

[Ellie]

Excuse my ignorance!! Is Berocca bad for anaemia? I only have the odd one, mind you, I am not anaemic.

Yes, other maladies can easily be forgotten about once we get our diagnosis - I think you're right to follow it up, Gary x

[Ellie]

slp I am ultra boring, Sarah.

Apart from feed, meds and water, I take an effervescent vitamin C, maybe 1 Berocca per month (that's wild for me 😀), smoothies and the odd espresso (for bowel action!) through my tube. Believe it or not, I once had a chilli concotion through the tube during a particularly bad bout of constipation 😏 Yes, it worked.