I'm not tired, my brain needs cooling :: Yawning and migraines

I woke up this morning with a headache. Nothing smelled funny and the lights weren't bothering me, so I took some ibuprofen and drank two big glasses of water. Nothing changed. I prepped dinner, had no problem with the foods and my neck wasn't stiffening. My head still hurt, though.

Then, about twenty minutes ago, the yawning began. Yawning is ALWAYS a precursor to a migraine attack for me. As silly as it sounds, there are articles out there that show the connection. There are also other migraine attack sufferers talking about it.
Yawning Because Your Brain Needs Oxygen? Think Again - you yawn when your brain is heating up, not when you need more oxygen.
No Yawning Allowed
The Many Symptoms of Migraine
And my favorite :: Compulsive yawning as migraine premonitory symptom

I took two Midrin and am praying the pain goes away because these were my last two. On Wednesday at my acupuncture appointment I'll be making an appointment with my primary care physician to ask for more abortives, but until then, I'll drink lots and lots of water and get some rest!

Do you deal with some of the more rare migraine attack symptoms? If so, which ones?

Tags: attack, migraine, migraines

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Permalink Reply by Laura on February 16, 2009 at 6:33pm: WOW.. yawning, that's a new one... coupled with an oldie-Midrin. That was the 1st migraine med I was ever given. It stopped working for me eons ago!!! I can still recall the taste when I think about it.... is it still a big red pill??? I think abortives would be a terrific idea!!! Looking forward to hear what your Doc says!!! Be well!! Don't you hate when you can't figure out what is causing the migraine! Actually I am at the point now, when my husband says, well, what do you think it is... I DON'T CARE.... I am trying to avoid all the reasons.. I JUST WANT THEM TO STOP!!!!! He is really patient and truly a saint. This has to be just as brutal for him without the pain!!!! Be well!!!! L; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sarah on February 16, 2009 at 6:39pm: Yawning is on that rare list ... I'm not totally crazy! LOL

I've had migraines for 20 years now and been on many different preventives and almost all of the abortives out there. Midrin has consistently worked the best for me, strangely enough. I normally take it with some Phenergen to help with the nausea but I didn't feel icky today so I skipped that (to stay awake, too). Since it's been almost four years since I've taken an abortive like Maxalt or Relpax, I'm going to give them a try again in hopes that I can utilize 'em. Otherwise I'll stick with the old-school stuff.

I don't know quite what caused this migraine, although I did try a new wine last night, so that might be it. Probably is. I have quite a few food triggers and try hard to avoid them, but wine is a downfall sometimes! Thanks for commiserating!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Camelia on October 27, 2009 at 9:48pm: I am very happy to find all this information. I have so many questions and doubts, but I am just going to go ahead and find out about what concerns me the most right now. I don't live in the USA and this is the first time that I hear about all these medications. I really want to know what your view on over the count migrane medicine is (aka advil, exedrin, etc).

I am desperate for help and very thankful for this blog!!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Janeen on February 16, 2009 at 8:06pm: Sarah,
Yawning was a new one for me too! I'd never heard of that. But I'm glad you figured that out and were able to know the signs. I had an "ice head ache" today. I can't explain it except my head feels "cold" on the inside. It means a migraine is coming. That and the fact that I was really crabby and yelling at the kids to "Quiet down!!" when they really weren't any louder than usual.
Hope you feel better. I'm off to bed :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sarah on February 16, 2009 at 8:14pm: Janeen, I think my friend Diana (who is around here somewhere) also deals with yawning. Migraine Chick does, too, so I don't feel so weird! My Midrin has since kicked in and I feel like "fuzz brain" now ... like everything is taking a little too much effort to get out/take care of. I'm not horribly tired, but will probably crash earlier than normal tonight. I just wish I had gotten a workout in today, so I'm going to do one tomorrow instead.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Janeen on February 16, 2009 at 8:26pm: My Imitrex gives me "fuzz brain". I only take it when I know I don't have to do anything important with the boys. I like when we can put on Sponge Bob and lay around like today. Feel better!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sarah on February 16, 2009 at 8:34pm: Clean House is my "fuzz brain" TV of choice today. I may turn on Freaks & Geeks later to zone out. :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mamta Singh on February 16, 2009 at 10:54pm: Hi Sarah,

Hope the headache hasn't bothered you beyond yesterday. But yawning is a well-established prodrome symptom common to many migraineurs. Prodrome is an early symptom that a disease is developing or that an attack is about to occur. Sometimes prodrome starts a day or 2 earlier and at other times, a couple of hours before the migraine pain actually hits.

Yawning (amongst other prodrome symptoms) signals the beginning of the neurochemical changes that have set off in the brain region. What follows is called the cascading effect. Yawning is one of the symptoms of the cortical spreading depression migraineurs experience before the pain begins. What chemical changes triggers this process, is explained in simple layperson terms in my book Migraines for the Informed Woman (available at Amazon, Lulu, Waterstones etc). The book explains what should and can be done in this phase to try and prevent the migraine hitting you. The chances that once a prodrome begins and the pain eventually does not strike, are slim - yet the chances are there.

Hope I haven't bored you to your eyeballs. Apologize. You may take a look at my blog http://www.migrainingjenny.wordpress.com to get some information on not so common knowledge and tips on migraines.

Best Regards; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sarah on February 16, 2009 at 11:06pm: Thanks for the vote of non-weirdness! I've been living with migraine attacks for 20 years now and yawning has always been one of my precursors. Most people don't know that about the yawning, so I had to share today. I know if I can get meds in me while I'm still yawning, the migraine attack won't be as bad. Thankfully it worked today!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mamta Singh on February 16, 2009 at 11:11pm: :-) You are welcome anytime. Have a pain-free month!
Best,; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by HOPE on February 17, 2009 at 12:16am: Hey Sara,
It just kills me to have to hear someone is getting a migraine!! I get horrified as soon as I feel one of my symptoms coming on. I hear people talk about different meds that they take, I myself take Imitrex. If you dont mind me asking, what is midrin? I yawn to but constantly throughout my attacks. I really never understood, now that I have read these discussions I can understand it a bit more. Another question about the acupuncture.Do you have to make more than one visit in order for it to work on your migraines? how well does it work for you? Thanks, HOPE.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sarah on February 17, 2009 at 12:26am: Hope,

I've tried Imitrex before, years ago, and may be trying it again soon. I don't know; I'll have to talk to my PCP more next week.

Midrin is an older sedative-typed medication. It's not a triptan like Imitrex and works for some people and not for others. You can find more information about Midrin here if you want to know details.

So glad that I was able to shed some light you on your yawning. Most people don't know about the connection and so I thought I would share as it was occuring!

I'm currently seeing a Chinese acupuncturist for other chronic pain issues, but have had acupuncture for migraines before. Acupuncture, for everything that I know of, takes more than one appointment to show results. The Chinese-trained acupuncturists recommend going three times a week, but a lot of Western acupuncturists believe that once a week is enough. The doctor I am seeing wanted me three times a week but I don't have time for that, so we're doing some intense stuff once a week for six weeks and then re-evaluating my pain level after that. I've had Western acupuncture and now Chinese acupuncture (same methods, different mindsets on holistic healing) and absolutely recommend Chinese acupuncture. It might be a struggle to find a Chinese-trained acupuncturist in your city (there are very few in my large city), but it's worth it!

Please let me know if I can be of anymore help!

~Sarah; ▶ Reply to This