# I have four-cheese sauce (with sun-dried tomatoes) coming out of my nose! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 5, 2001, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-four-cheese-sauce-with-sun-dried-tomatoes-coming-out-of-my-nose/71347 "2001-07-05T14:25:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-four-cheese-sauce-with-sun-dried-tomatoes-coming-out-of-my-nose/71347/1 "2001-07-05T14:25:59Z")
Well, I did a few hours ago, anyway. **Warning…TMI…Warning** Last night, around 8:00pm, I had some pasta with the titular sauce. It was yummy. Fast forward to 1:00am this morning. I am sleeping. Or so I think…I wake with a start as I detect my nose running. I know what this means… I run for the bathroom sink just as a stream of icky goo issues forth. When it stops, I blow my nose, and make the mistake of looking at it. Yep. Four-cheese sauce. With sun-dried tomatoes. Now, the burning starts. Forget the all-powerful Sarlaac; _this_ is a new definition of pain and suffering! Then comes the coughing… I have defective internal plumbing, it seems. Invariably, if I eat something past some randomly determined time, then go to bed, within half an hour after I fall sleep this scenario will be repeated. The digestive fluids start to back up, travelling up my esophagus. When these fluids reach the first junction, some of them decide to detour, and head straight into my lungs. Thus, the painful, burning coughing. And yes, when I coughed up the gunk from my lungs, the four-cheese sauce (with sun-dried tomatoes) was readily identifiable. The rest of the fluids continue upward, straight into my nasal passages. Where they burn. A lot. So, after about an hour of coughing up junk from my lungs and blowing my nose to clear my nasal passages, I finally am able to breathe somewhat again. So, I go back to bed. Half an hour later, it happens again. I feel lousy. If I felt like crap, it would be an improvement. I can barely breathe because my lungs are full of this nastiness. I could drown in my own digestive juices - isn’t that a lovely thought? However, I know that during the day, I will steadily cough up more junk, and will gradually be able to breathe better. But right now, it sucks. And I have a headache, both from coughing and lack of sleep. Blech. Anyone know of a good antacid? ---
**Author:** ![pezpunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@pezpunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pezpunk)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-four-cheese-sauce-with-sun-dried-tomatoes-coming-out-of-my-nose/71347/2 "2001-07-05T14:31:33Z")
Yup. That’s disgusting. Lost my appetite for sure. Maybe you should try nose plugs? ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-four-cheese-sauce-with-sun-dried-tomatoes-coming-out-of-my-nose/71347/3 "2001-07-05T15:30:53Z")
What?? No mushrooms?! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-four-cheese-sauce-with-sun-dried-tomatoes-coming-out-of-my-nose/71347/4 "2001-07-05T16:00:03Z")
I just like the phrase “titular sauce.” ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-four-cheese-sauce-with-sun-dried-tomatoes-coming-out-of-my-nose/71347/5 "2001-07-05T17:42:33Z")
Would sleeping sitting up help? ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-four-cheese-sauce-with-sun-dried-tomatoes-coming-out-of-my-nose/71347/6 "2001-07-05T18:29:10Z")
A similar problem happens to me, except the digestive goodness just parks itself along the length of my esophagus, thus giving me a taste in my mouth in the mornings that can’t be removed, even after gargling a liter of Scope. Someone suggested to me that I avoid eating the damning all-meat combo pizzas at midnight, but there’s got to be an easier solution. As GWB said regarding the energy crisis, the American way of life is sacred, and I shouldn’t have to adjust my way of life just because of some piddly problem. [sub]It WAS Bush, wasn’t it? Maybe Cheney… if anyone’s familiar with heartburn, it’s gotta be him…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2001, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-four-cheese-sauce-with-sun-dried-tomatoes-coming-out-of-my-nose/71347/7 "2001-07-05T21:53:52Z")
**Wise-assed answer:** How do you smell? **Serious answer:** See a doctor! You could be doing serious damage to your esophagus and lungs. And you may be able take care of your problem with just a daily pill if you’re not willing to change your diet/lifestyle. But you need some professional advice. You too **LNO.** I hate the _“we have a pill to fix that”_ mentality that seems to be taking hold in this country, but in this case it may be appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2001, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-four-cheese-sauce-with-sun-dried-tomatoes-coming-out-of-my-nose/71347/8 "2001-07-06T01:16:16Z")
You are having acid reflux, and you can choke to death from it or ruin your esophagus. It could be a sign of another problem. Acid reflux can be treated with medicine that reduces acid production, sometimes surgery is needed. I take a medicine to reduce acid production. There’s nothing like waking up choking on stomach acid in your lungs, and nasal cavities. I found that it’s worse if I sleep on my stomach. I will sleep propped up in bed on a bad night, anything that keeps my throat higher than my stomach works. ---
**Author:** ![Darwins\_Finch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darwins_finch/32/20304_2.png) [@Darwins\_Finch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darwins_Finch)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2001, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-four-cheese-sauce-with-sun-dried-tomatoes-coming-out-of-my-nose/71347/9 "2001-07-06T04:28:36Z")
Well, after several hours, I can breathe again. I’ve suspected I have acid reflex for quite a while, and yes, I know I need to see a doctor. I’m just in HMO limbo right now. But it is definitely on my list of things that need to be checked. Oddly enough, the problem is usually worse when I sit up. I try to keep elevated, but it doesn’t seem to help. I haven’t been able to pin down exactly what foods cause it. Sometimes, I can eat something just before going to bed, and have no problems. Other times, if I eat so much as six hours before going to bed, it happens. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2001, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-four-cheese-sauce-with-sun-dried-tomatoes-coming-out-of-my-nose/71347/10 "2001-07-06T15:03:17Z")
I have a hiatal hernia, which causes me to have acid reflux if I’m not careful. (They don’t always.) My doctor proscribed Prilosec (the purple pill they advertise on TV) a few years ago and it did wonders, until my insurance company decided they didn’t want to pay for it anymore. It’s ridiculously expensive. So I changed my diet and keep a supply of Tums handy. Basically, I eat dinner fairly early, between 6 and 7, and try not to have any after dinner snacks, especially containing caffeine or sugar. Even drinking a soft drink in the evening was enought to make me miserable at night. But I don’t seem to have a lot of trouble with cheeses, so obviously, YMMV. Anyway, I would suggest keeping a journal of everything you eat **and drink,** especially in the evenings. It’ll be helpful when you do get in to see your doctor too. And good luck, you’re not alone.