Hello!

Just wanted to introduce myself. My son, BJ, is 4-years-old and was born with a rare cluster of birth defects called VACTERL Association. He also had tethered cord. He has had 7 surgeries and is doing awesome...you wouln't know a thing was ever wrong with him.

Until recently. About three weeks ago he started yawning excessively. On average about once every 25-seconds, but sometimes even more intensely. He may go for several hours with only yawning a couple of times and then have a couple of hours where he will yawn several times a minute. It doesn't look like his usual yawn or sound normal.

We took him to his pediatrician who believes this is most likely a tic. At my request we had basic bloodwork done which came back normal. We self-referred to a neurologist who ordered an EEG. That came back normal. But, the neurologist saw his yawning in clinic and agreed it was odd...either an usual tic or an atypical seizure. He recommended doing an inpatient study EEG with video 24-48 hours. That is schedule in a couple of weeks.

In the meantime, we are very anxious. We got a pulseox to check his oxygen levels...which have been fine.

We have noticed that he seems to blink a lot, but maybe it's because the yawning is making his eyes water.

We have also noticed that he complains of itching - most on his right hip, but also the side of his head.

His sleeping and eating and everything else has been normal. He says he's not tired and doesn't hurt anywhere and doesn't feel out of breath.

So, here I am hoping that one of you out there has experience with something similar, has ideas, or recommendations.

It does seem the yawning has changed a bit in the past two days...it's more breathy and not as much like a yawn.

Any ideas at all are much appreciated!

Thank you,
Rebecca

I can imagine how frantic you are, especially after all you've been through. I know some very wise folks will be by here who will know where to best direct you--which of the forums are most likely to put you in touch with people who might recognize your precious child's symptoms.

I don't know whether or not you'd like to be in touch with our Sanctuary/Spiritual Support Forum in the meantime. Here's the link, just in case: http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum27.html

Take care. You & your husband remember to take care of each other during this difficult time, too, you hear? Best thoughts going out to B.J..

-- C.G.. . . . a work still being worked on

I am a french physician and work on yawning

*edit*
European neurology search yawning

*edit*
I thing that the baby needs an RMI to search a brain pathology

with best regards

Thank you for your reply! I will certainly look at the research you describe.

My son had a full spine and brain MRI as a newborn (May 2007) and again at just before 1-year-old (March 2008) and again after tethered cord surgery (July 2008). None were with contrast. None showed any brain abnormalities, just tethered cord with a lumbar syrinx.

Do you still believe another MRI is prudent? If so, should it be with contrast or performed in any special manner?

My best regards and thanks,
Rebecca

I set up a baby monitor in my son's room last night and heard him yawning as he fell asleep, had two 5-minute yawning episodes in the middle of the night, and then another yawning episode when he woke up in the morning.

Here are several videos of some yawning episodes. Please ignore the 2-year-old and 1-year-old in the background!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsBty5o_uBU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG-ru_HJOJY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyvGJGbxY5w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnlZ2I9GoSg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jiwri5-MUKk

So, just to recap...my son has been excessively yawning. He has had bloodwork, EEG, echocardiogram, EKG, and video EEG which have all been normal. He is scheduled for an MRI of the brain and spine on the 27th.

Just now he told me his left hand "feels like sparklers" which I am guessing is tingling. He has never ever said anything like this before.

What do you think? Document it and mention it at Tuesday's appointment? Call someone now? Go to the ER?

Really...with this son of mine I never know. Thanks again for any time you devote to us.

I would ask him if the other hand ever feels like that or his feet. Also whether if it stays that way or if it's like that when he wakes up (like it fell asleep from sleeping on it, etc).

Of course, it's Saturday now (I just saw the post) so don't know if you call the doctor or not, but Tuesday is right around the corner....and of course it should be mentioned then.

Let us know what they say.

BJ had his MRI yesterday and we met with the neurologist in clinic after. Nothing showed up to indicate a cause of the yawning. The neurologist said the overnight video EEG did show one "seizure-like burst" but it wasn't logged with any yawning, so he doesn't feel this is the cause of the yawning. He believes the yawning is a tic. We are to see him again in 6-months and sooner if we notice any seizure-like activity or any repetative, jerky movements or if the yawning starts to negatively impact his life.

The only issue in the MRI was apparently his syrinx has grown in width. It was 1.2mm at his last MRI two years ago and now it is 2mm. So, we are consulting with our neurosurgeon about that. I am very concerned this could be an indication of his cord retethering.

So, that is where we are at. Thoughts?

Glad to the tests are negative and that you may put your mind at ease. Hopefully the yawning will fade away with time.

Did the neurologist have any comment on the left hand tingling? Has it occurred again in that hand or any other extremity?