Yawning and IBS Symptoms?
#356997 - 03/25/10 08:36 PM
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Does anyone else seem to experience excessive yawning which seems to be tied to IBS-related digestive problems? I have not been diagnosed with IBS yet (I have an appt coming up to get checked), but do seem to exhibit all of the symptoms of IBS-C.
Recently, I have noticed excessive and abnormal yawning (about 2-3 times per minute for 20-30 min) which seems to be caused from foods that also seem to cause IBS-C related symptoms (gas, side pains, bloating, etc). Things that really hurt my supposed IBS-C, such as alcohol (beer especially) seem to bring on the yawning very rapidly...before I even finish an entire glass. Other times, it happens about 20-30 minutes after a meal. It seems to be worse when my symptoms are worse and does not seem to have anything to do with how tired I might be at the time. The yawning is definitely not what I would consider typical and my sleep patterns are fine and I do not feel tired.
Anyone else experience this?
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Likely IBS-C and Fructose Malabsorption
Undiagnosed and going through testing process
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There is this book called the Treatment of Disease in TCM: Diseases of the Chest, Abdomen, and ribside. You can look it up on google books, there is a whole section about yawning from an eastern perspective.
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Here's some interesting reading from Wikipedia about yawning:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yawning
While this information doesn't specifically mention IBS, it does in other ways encourage our need for some fresh air and excercise to increase blood oxygen levels.
I find winter months to bring on the yawns and blahs. For some of us, this can also be a vitamin D deficiency from the lack of sunshine. I have to admit that I am definitely a 'solar energized' person. 
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Senior female, IBS-D, presently stable thanks to Heather & Staff
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It likely isn't related to IBS. Check Excessive Yawning at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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Syl,
While some studies are interesting and even helpful (if long-term studies over decades), my own body is my own best study in the end for me... and I believe this to be independently true for others. We all have different genetics and different lifestyles, past histories, current life stessors, etc.
Pharmaceutical companies and government sponsored studies are money makers for those who do them. These are not always reliable, and often are 'jigged'. I know, I worked for a pharmaceutic company for years as a Grants Administator and I'm sorry that I did simply to survive financially.
We all need exercise and fresh air, IBS or not. We need to consume foods that are not contaminated and of good quality.
I give you the space to go with clinical studies, though I encourage people to eat what is proven to be healthy and works for them, regardless of what clinical studies show for a handful of others involved in some study. Many subjects don't even accurately report their symptoms... just interested in getting paid to participate.
IBS is a very person thing, and none of us are the exact same. The best information is right here on Heather's boards, and it's not all about clinical trials outside of ourselves and involves the sharing of our personal life experiences when it comes to eating foods that work for us (though not perhaps for all who have added diagnoses).
This is a support group and not a government clinical trial foundation. Heather's posts on what has been found through some trials do provide great and useful information, while some of these other trials absolutely do not. They often only actually serve to confuse some, and particularly 'newbies'. More stess and confusion is the last thing they need in their lives.
Perhaps it would be best if you run some things by Heather first and see if she wants to post them on the IBS info board.
Yes, lack of oxygen can cause yawning, and yes lack of oxygen can affect bowel function just like it can all bodily organs, including our brains. This is in part why exercise is recommended for IBS and lots of other medical conditions.
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Senior female, IBS-D, presently stable thanks to Heather & Staff
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what are you talking about now? There was no reference to a industry or government study in my previous posting. Or maybe you didn't read it? Or is that you just want to harp on about a subject you have posted about some time ago?
Do you remember Heather's comment on this very topic in a Dec posting ? Or do you even recall your posting on Horse sense versus nonsense?
Give it a break! It is getting rather boring!
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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Do you think a nervous tic like nonstop sneezing?
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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Never heard of it. Do you know someone who has a nervous sneezing tic? Is there a relationship to yawning? 
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STABLE: ♂, IBS-D 50+ years - Science of IBS
The FODMAP Approach to Managing IBS Symptoms
Evidence-based Dietary Management of Functional GI Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach
FODMAP Chart & Cheatsheet
The Role of Food & Dietary Intervention in IBS
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Minnie, I saw a girl on the news who had this. At first, they did not know what it was, then the follow-up said it was a tic. She just kept sneezing. If I remember the story correctly, she did stop when she slept. How awful for that poor kid.
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There is so much we don't know about IBS, so who knows, there could be a connection.
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Hiccups (aka hicoughs) are also another thing that some people experience after swallowing air, drinking carbonated beverages, or eating too fast (gulping food), none of which are good for IBSers though are not caused by the IBS condition itself... though certainly can irritate it as what we input through our mouths have a long distance to travel before it exits out the other end.
As I understand it at this point in time 'tics' are caused by nevousness that tends to focus on a specific nerve (differing from person to person), and frequently exacerbated by excess stress. I've had friends through the years who have facial tics that come and go, such as eye twitching which they cannot control.
These of course have nothing to do with IBS, nor are they causes of IBS. It's a central nervous system reaction that is not known to be gut related. However, having such can be both embarassing and stressful at times in certain social situation, which in and of itself can upset the IBS gut.
Much of this is seemingly a merry-go-round and a mistery to many of us.
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Senior female, IBS-D, presently stable thanks to Heather & Staff
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Geri,
This is interesting, and I do believe this too (repetive sneezing) could be caused by a tic. We all know that tickle or nose stinging sensation we get when we need to sneeze. Well it does make sense if the neurological sensors keep sending such a message to the nose, the sneezing is going to be repetitive until somehow stopped.
I had a tendency to sneeze numerous times in the mornings shortly after awakening. I think it was due to having the house closed up to maintain heat and not having enough fresh air and moisture in my bedroom. I have solved this problem with a bottle of plain old saline nasal spray (salt water) by Equate and sold at Walmart. A few drops of this (harmless) in each nostril allows me to blow out the offending particles while moisturizing my nasal passages and throat at the same time. I have not had a cold or a sore throat since I started using this a few years ago.
If there is one place in our home that we need to keep as dust free as possible is our bedroom. We spend significant time there sleeping. There is a lot of dust generated by bed linens and also the shedding of dead skin cells into the bedding which in turn invites dust mites. Sounds gross I know!
A good room air filter for the bedroom is well worth the investment, and some people like to use a vaporizer at least occasionally to moisturize their sinuses and keep them from drying out. For some, dry sinus mucosa can cause nose bleeds when sneezing or blowing their noses too hard. A little petroleum jelly in the nose can also soothe dry nasal mucosa.
While some of what I've written here may seem off topic, the bottom line is the darnest things can sometimes flare gut symptoms for IBSers for a variety of reasons, even something as small as swallowing sinus drainage when one doesn't have a tissue close by to spit the gunk out into.
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Senior female, IBS-D, presently stable thanks to Heather & Staff
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I don't know if you tried to look up the book I told you about in the previous post, sry I tried to copy and paste but couldn't. You can find it by typing in the book name and then yawning in google. It may be interesting for you to know that the chinese talk about IBS often as Liver Qi Stagnation or Spleen and KIdney Yang Deficiency. Yawning is also described as being from Liver Qi Stagnation and SPleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency if you notice in the symptoms area how excessive yawning also goes along with symptoms such as loose stools or abdominal distention. So in some way they can be related and the excessive yawning may just be another clue that things aren't moving around in your body the way they should be. There is also a difference between yawning in general and yawning which is worse on exertion, do you notice a difference? If you just yawn all the time, it may be a good idea to exercise if you don't, that should help.feel better:)
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Quote:
I don't know if you tried to look up the book I told you about in the previous post, sry I tried to copy and paste but couldn't. You can find it by typing in the book name and then yawning in google. It may be interesting for you to know that the chinese talk about IBS often as Liver Qi Stagnation or Spleen and KIdney Yang Deficiency. Yawning is also described as being from Liver Qi Stagnation and SPleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency if you notice in the symptoms area how excessive yawning also goes along with symptoms such as loose stools or abdominal distention. So in some way they can be related and the excessive yawning may just be another clue that things aren't moving around in your body the way they should be. There is also a difference between yawning in general and yawning which is worse on exertion, do you notice a difference? If you just yawn all the time, it may be a good idea to exercise if you don't, that should help.feel better:)
I did look at the link and have it bookmarked. Thanks for your help. I do seem to feel a slight difference in the yawning I describe now and the yawning I have been used to my entire life. It's kind of hard to explain. As for things that bring it on, it seems to be related to foods that definitely cause trouble with my supposed IBS-C. For instance, after half a glass of alcohol the yawning starts up.
As for exercise, I do a ton of it. I probably average running about 45-55 miles per week right now and also supplement the running with a lot of other exercise as well.
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Likely IBS-C and Fructose Malabsorption
Undiagnosed and going through testing process
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Quote:
It likely isn't related to IBS. Check Excessive Yawning at the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Thanks for the link. It certainly seems as though the yawning pops up after eating/drinking things that cause my IBS trouble. I also do not always feel tired with it either. I've googled a lot on the subject and don't seem to see many people with a similar problem.
I am meeting with a doctor in a couple weeks and will bring up all these symptoms to see what he says. I have not been diagnosed with IBS-C yet but it does seem the most fitting diagnosis based on my symptoms. Excessive yawning seems to have quite a few different causes so it might be something else yet.
Thanks again for the help. I'm checking out the link now.
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Likely IBS-C and Fructose Malabsorption
Undiagnosed and going through testing process
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Hey,
Do you find that the exercise makes the yawning and stomach pains better or worse? What the book really is saying is that yawning and stomach pain can come from the same root problem, not necessarily that foods may trigger the yawning. But I would think that if you were to eat a trigger food, it may aggravate the root problem (may be liver qi stag, or sp/kd yang def) and therefore cause the yawning. I will ask my teachers abotu and see if they have heard of this.
PS.Just so you know Im studying chinese medicine which is why this might sound crazy I guess if your not studying it. But sometimes there is not Western answer for something, but eastern medicine has books written entirely about symptoms like yawning because they try to look at the whole body and all the symptoms to get a clue in to the root cause. And excessive yawning may not be a very important symptom in Western medicine, but in Eastern medicine it can tell us a lot about what is really going on in the body.
Edited by Allisonmary (03/28/10 07:14 PM)
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I saw her too.
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IBS-A for 20 years with terrible bloating and gas. On the diet since April 2004. Remember this from Heather's information pages:
"You absolutely must eat insoluble fiber foods, and as much as safely possible, but within the IBS dietary guidelines. Treat insoluble fiber foods with suitable caution, and you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of them, in very healthy quantities, without problem." Please eat IF foods!
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I haven't really noticed any differences in the yawning on days that I work out and on days that I do not work out. I have been working out almost daily, though, since the yawning symptom started probably like 6-9 months ago. It also coincides with my IBS symptoms gettinig worse. I probably have had slight, barely recognizable IBS symptoms for 3-4 years but they were barely out of the realm of what would be considered normal and I only recognize them now.
I rarely, if ever, yawn during a strenuous cardio workout.
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Likely IBS-C and Fructose Malabsorption
Undiagnosed and going through testing process
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Do you think you are eating enough for the amount you work out? LIke iron, protein, and things that are good to tonify blood? COuld you possibly have a low RBC count or hypothyroidism. SOmetimes if you work out alot but you don't give your body the proper fuel it will kind of slow down too much. You may not notice it when you are exercising but when you are still. THe section of the book I sent you abuot Qi stagnation, blood stagnation, do you have any other symptoms like dizziness, chest pain. What about cold hands and dry skin?
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So, this isn't exactly what you're describing--but here's my experience...
Whenever I get a bad IBS attack, I get unbelievably tired. I can hardly speak due to the level of pain, and I just run back and forth to the bathroom. However, there have been *many* times when I "put myself to sleep." That's the best way to describe it. I yawn and cannot keep my eyes open. It's almost a guarantee that as soon as I can stay out of the bathroom, I am on the couch asleep. My Mom is a nurse and says it's almost like my body's defense to put myself to sleep instead of feel the level of pain. Do you also get sleepy? Or is it just yawning? Sorry if this is totally different and not helpful, but I thought I'd throw it out there for you...
Hope that helps.
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IBS-A
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Quote:
Do you think you are eating enough for the amount you work out? LIke iron, protein, and things that are good to tonify blood? COuld you possibly have a low RBC count or hypothyroidism. SOmetimes if you work out alot but you don't give your body the proper fuel it will kind of slow down too much. You may not notice it when you are exercising but when you are still. THe section of the book I sent you abuot Qi stagnation, blood stagnation, do you have any other symptoms like dizziness, chest pain. What about cold hands and dry skin?
Overall, I'm eating the right number of calories for my workouts which has been a big accomplishment as they require a lot of calories. I also believe my macro levels are good but my nutrients I'm not sure on since I have changed the type of food I eat to try to help with the IBS. I typically keep track of my calories and the breakdown of those calories but have only recently tracked calories. I'll start fully tracking my nutrients again as well to see if something changed with the new diet.
I experience dizziness occasionally but we are talking probably like 1-3 times per month and it is typically when I don't get enough calories at a given time in the day. I eat constantly and occasionally when I miss a meal or two I might feel a little dizzy. I have always had slightly colder hands than normal but no chest pain or abnormally dry skin.
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Likely IBS-C and Fructose Malabsorption
Undiagnosed and going through testing process
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Quote:
So, this isn't exactly what you're describing--but here's my experience...
Whenever I get a bad IBS attack, I get unbelievably tired. I can hardly speak due to the level of pain, and I just run back and forth to the bathroom. However, there have been *many* times when I "put myself to sleep." That's the best way to describe it. I yawn and cannot keep my eyes open. It's almost a guarantee that as soon as I can stay out of the bathroom, I am on the couch asleep. My Mom is a nurse and says it's almost like my body's defense to put myself to sleep instead of feel the level of pain. Do you also get sleepy? Or is it just yawning? Sorry if this is totally different and not helpful, but I thought I'd throw it out there for you...
Hope that helps.
Both. Typically, it is just yawning without feeling tired but occasionally I do feel abnormally tired as well. Most of the time I do not get tired.
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Likely IBS-C and Fructose Malabsorption
Undiagnosed and going through testing process
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Did you ever figure this out? i get exactly the same symptoms you're describing. strange yawning (not fatigue like) related to something i ate which acts as predictor of GI symptoms (diarrhea). Seem to experience it sometime after dinner, before bed. When it happens, it means I'll wake v. early w/ nasty lower GI issues. My bowel then needs to clear out completely, before i'll have an appetite and/or feel somewhat normal again.
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