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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Yawning? 
        
(Message started by: hoeboe on Jul 5th, 2007, 9:40am)
Title: Yawning?
Post by hoeboe on Jul 5th, 2007, 9:40am
It's been quite awhile since I was here last.  Almost long enough that I should post in the newbie section.  

CH's are back bigger and badder than ever!  I was PF for quite a long time for me. (around 9 months or more).  

One thing I have noticed over the years is that I find myself more often than not, yawning virtually nonstop just before a CH hits.  It's like you yawn and just finish and you yawn again and again.  All of a sudden I feel the switch flip over inside and feel almost like something is being flushed in or out of my body, and then the first symptom of the CH starts with the slight dull pain in the right temple.  From there it normally escalates quickly into full blown attack.  

In the past I have tried Ergotamine, Cafregot, Norgesic Forte, Verapamil,  and Inderol (sp?) for preventatives, and Imitrex, Maxalt, and Zomig for abortives.   Imitrex and Zomig have been in spray format.  I always seem to get some relief for a bit and then none of them touch it anymore.

Currently I am on Inderol and Zomig which are doing nothing.  I had a hit last night and the night before that started me thinking of what it might be like if I just ended it all.  Then when it's over I am thinking what the hell made me think that?  Sound weird?  Probably not. :/

One other thing I notice is that if I am at work I barely ever get hit there.  But if I am at home on holidays or the weekend I get hit mid day, morning, whatever!   It's like if my mind is at rest (not just the body) the devil has his way with it.

I am so depressed as I right this.... It's 9:30am on Thursday of my weeks holidays and all I have seemed to have done is fight headaches with my time off.  GRRR!

Anyway.  Anybody else have the symptoms of excessive yawning before an attack or is it just me?

Regards
Hoeboe
Title: Re: Yawning?
Post by George_J on Jul 5th, 2007, 11:02am
See:

http://www.ouch-us.org/chgeneral/chmanage.htm

The article includes the following statement:

"Premonitory symptoms of tiredness and yawning, and associated features of nausea, vomiting, photophobia, phonophobia and aura symptoms have all been described in relationship to cluster attacks. However, in contrast to migraine, CH sufferers are usually restless and irritable, preferring to move about, looking for movement or posture that may relieve the pain."

Never noticed the yawning myself, but I almost exclusively get hit at night during REM sleep.  

Best,

George
Title: Re: Yawning?
Post by LeeS on Jul 5th, 2007, 11:49am
The only time I get the yawns is when I'm with limey-bird :P

However, this relatively recent report suggests that premonitory symptoms (including yawning) and cranial autonomic symptoms in primary headache may be caused by an anomaly of tyrosine metabolism.


Quote:
Biochemistry of neuromodulation in primary headaches: focus on anomalies of tyrosine metabolism.
D'Andrea G, Nordera GP, Perini F, Allais G, Granella F.
Headache Center, Neurology Clinic "Villa Margherita", Via Costacolonna 6, I-36057, Arcugnano, Italy.

Recent studies have suggested that abnormalities of dopamine and trace amines (tyramine, octopamine, and synephrine), products of tyrosine metabolism, may constitute the metabolic events that predispose to the occurrence of cluster headache (CH) and migraine attacks. This hypothesis is supported by the following evidences: the discovery of trace amine associated receptors (TAARs), expressed on the olfactory epithelium, amigdala, hypothalamus, periacqueductal gray, and the biochemical anomalies of dopamine and trace amines. The possible effects of these biochemical abnormalities on TAARs and dopamine receptors, located in different areas of CNS, may explain the behaviour (restlessness, anxiety and, at times, hypersexuality) and the autonomic signs during the painful attacks of CH, and the premonitory symptoms of migraine crisis (thirst, craving, yawning, alteration of smell, depression etc.).


Must look up this hypersexuality issue.  Anyone get hypersexual? ;;D

-Lee
Title: Re: Yawning?
Post by Guiseppi on Jul 5th, 2007, 11:57am
You haven't mentioned oxygen in your abortive arsenal. The most effective abortive for me, will almost always stop an attack in 8 minutes or less. Suicidal thoughts during an attack are common, the damned things hurt! Most of us have been there a time or two. Not getting hit at work means you're probably one of those who get the "let down" attacks. As soon as you relax you get slammed. Unfortunately that's also common!

You mentioned cafergot had worked in the past. It stopped working for me any years ago. When I tried oxygen alone it would stop the headache but it always came back 15 minutes after shutting off the tank. Now I pop a cafergot and start huffing the 02. 02 stops it, cafergot seems to keep it away.

My current prevent is lithium, 1200 mg a day when on cycle, blocks about 80-90% of my headaches. Good luck and don't give up.

Guiseppi
Title: Re: Yawning?
Post by Rosybabe on Jul 5th, 2007, 7:55pm
I yawn when i am about to get hit during the day, at night I am sleeping so i don't think i do it...but I always tought I yawn because after so many hits at night and non sleeping well I am just to tired...
Title: Re: Yawning?
Post by Patrick_A on Jul 6th, 2007, 4:29pm
Yawning is your bodies way to get more oxygen.

Patrick_A
Title: Re: Yawning?
Post by hoeboe on Jul 6th, 2007, 5:01pm

on 07/06/07 at 16:29:25, Patrick_A wrote:
Yawning is your bodies way to get more oxygen.

Patrick_A



Funny you say that bacause I always believed that too.  Just yesterday on the news they were talking about how some study that was done has debunked that.  I haven't had a chance to check it out further yet.
Title: Re: Yawning?
Post by hoeboe on Jul 6th, 2007, 5:08pm

on 07/05/07 at 11:57:53, Guiseppi wrote:
You haven't mentioned oxygen in your abortive arsenal. The most effective abortive for me, will almost always stop an attack in 8 minutes or less. Suicidal thoughts during an attack are common, the damned things hurt! Most of us have been there a time or two. Not getting hit at work means you're probably one of those who get the "let down" attacks. As soon as you relax you get slammed. Unfortunately that's also common!

You mentioned cafergot had worked in the past. It stopped working for me any years ago. When I tried oxygen alone it would stop the headache but it always came back 15 minutes after shutting off the tank. Now I pop a cafergot and start huffing the 02. 02 stops it, cafergot seems to keep it away.

My current prevent is lithium, 1200 mg a day when on cycle, blocks about 80-90% of my headaches. Good luck and don't give up.

Guiseppi



Thanks Guiseppi.  I will again ask my doc about O2.  He for some reason skirts the question whenever I ask it.  I'm not sure why.  I wish I could get another doc, but it ain't that easy living in Canada to get one.  You have to wait a couple years before you can a solid family doc  to begin with.  

I am going to have to see if there is a specialist somewhere that I can get referred to instead of dealing with my GP (HMO for you US peeps).

Regards!
Hoeboe
Title: Re: Yawning?
Post by horsegirl on Jul 9th, 2007, 11:01pm
good answer patrick,yawning is lack of oxegen in the body,i have never noticed yawning more before a headache , but i'm realy not on tune to my body like many of you , that may explain why 02 helps, and water to apparently.


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