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runny nose during bowel movement

I was just wondering if anyone else experiences this- My nose runs excessively during a bowel movement than when it is over it quits running - I have always had bowel issues but this has just started happening in the last 4 months- it is really weird!!
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Avatar universal
I am guessing that your go tract is from your mouth to your anus so your mouth is connected to your nose when you have a bowel movement you are eliminating and therefore the mucosal membranes also of the nose eliminate anything that doesn't need to be there.  then mucus is released to send away unnecessary things. I am not a doctor I am a nurse and that is my educated Guess,  not a diagnosis.
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Avatar universal
I have a related issue.  When my nose is stuffy, especially during the night... it may cause sleep problems too.  I found that pooping relives the stuffiness immediately!!  If I wake up or can’t sleep... I go sit on the toilet and sure enough I finally poop and I can breathe and fall asleep.
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Avatar universal
This is all connected to the vagus nerve, please google the same
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Avatar universal
thank you all for posting. I have had this for years and wondered why. it is not a problem and the sneezing actually not only signals me, but helps me poop. so it is just curiosity for me, not trying to diagnose or cure it. Dr. Oz said it is normal, so don't let it ruin your life or put you on a quest for a diagnosis. I don't have high blood pressure or irritable bowel or any of those things being discussed that may cause it. it is our body's natural way of doing things. we may have had it all of our lives and never noticed it till now. happy pooping and keep the tissues handy... lol
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Avatar universal
Excellent response, thank you!  My husband asked the question and I googled it.  Yours has been the most thoughtful response.
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Avatar universal
and of course my dictionary would have to choose the word KNOWS over NOSE LOL ... so sorry for my lame texting
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Avatar universal
I like this treatment idea after experiencing the same problem as most everyone else here. Recently the sneezing and runny knows almost seems like a severe allergy attack when I need to have a BM. It completely goes away afterwards. After reading more on candida overgrowth, I'm curious if this is also causing the severe pain I have under my left rib cage, especially when laying down on my back. I read that Candida can also cause other health issues that I currently have, ie Hashimoto's, thyroid disease. Wouldn't a doctor be able to prescribe meds for a severe yeast infection? Well I'm going to give this a try. Probiotics, yogart, Kefir, and more fermented foods. I plan to give an update in a month or two to see if this helps.
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1 Comments
To iwant2bpainfree, you might want to do a Google search for Hiatal Hernia.  That might be the cause of your intense pain you describe at the location of just under your left rib cage.  I wish you good health!
Avatar universal
I think it is the sinus' way of keeping bacteria from entering your lungs.  After all, the odor that comes from you feces carries fecal bacteria in it (in larger molecules).  So if your nose is wet and draining, it traps the fecal bacteria molecules from entering your lungs.  And, as you sniff, you end up swallowing that bacteria but that will not hurt you because your saliva and stomach enzymes will kill it.
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Avatar universal
I think it is the sinus' way of keeping bacteria from entering your lungs.  After all, the odor that comes from you feces carries fecal bacteria in it (in larger molecules).  So if your nose is wet and draining, it traps the fecal bacteria molecules from entering your lungs.  And, as you sniff, you end up swallowing that bacteria but that will not hurt you because your saliva and stomach enzymes will kill it.
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7790052 tn?1394212118
I have the same experience you do when it comes to the bathroom...not so much the sneezing as the profuse runny nose. Only happens if there's BM, not if just urinating. Afterwards, I blow my nose and it goes away, until next time.

Also after I eat...same runny nose situation. I don't know if specific foods in the diet will trigger the rhinitis. It seems to happen regardless of what I eat or when. If it only happened at a certain meal, like breakfast, then it would be easier to narrow down, but that's not the case.

I also have mild neuropathy in my legs and feet at night, as well as arthritis, but I don't believe either is connected to the rhinitis. Have you checked to see if anyone else in your family, living or dead, has had rhinitis? It can run in families...it is/has been present on my dad's side of the family, but not my mom's.
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Avatar universal
hi, I'm so pleased to read your contribution as it most closely resembles my daily experience. when i wake I am ok until I get out of bed. Just getting upright can be the trigger. But it doesn't always happen. Sometimes it waits til I NEED THE LOO, THEN THE SNEEZES ARE OVERTAKEN BY PROFUSE RUNNY NOSE, FEELING LIKE A HAVE A COLD. i have iri=ritable bowel and the runny nose mirrors it = SUBSIDES, just leaves nose feeling slightly stuffed up, for a few minutes or hours, returns with a vengeance each time I go to the loo. when the sneezes abate and my head clears, I KNOW i'm finished in the bathroom for a while.  It's like a dual clear out.  I also sneeze violently after eating, usually 3 very big sneezes that leave me feeling bunged up and flu like, just for 5 minutes then it settles.  I read about gustatory rhinitis and overeating but I sneeze sometimes just by having a drink of water, and as I said earlier, just getting out of bed can start it off.  Occasionally, just a couple of times a year, I FEEL FULL OF A COLD FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, BUNGED UP AND SNEEZING, BUT NOT A TRUE COLD and it stops suddenly like a light going out. all very weird but such a relief to find that other people have similar experiences.  I have mentioned to GP  who stared blankly and had never heard of it and I felt like I was being thought of as over anxious or hysterical.  I also have fibromyalgia, IBS, osteoarthritis, small nerve neuropathy, mild sleep apnoe, fluctuating BP.  All low key issues but the sum of them makes life uphill. do you think diet plays a part regards?
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Avatar universal
hi, I'm so pleased to read your contribution as it most closely resembles my daily experience. when i wake I am ok until I get out of bed. Just getting upright can be the trigger. But it doesn't always happen. Sometimes it waits til I NEED THE LOO, THEN THE SNEEZES ARE OVERTAKEN BY PROFUSE RUNNY NOSE, FEELING LIKE A HAVE A COLD. i have iri=ritable bowel and the runny nose mirrors it = SUBSIDES, just leaves nose feeling slightly stuffed up, for a few minutes or hours, returns with a vengeance each time I go to the loo. when the sneezes abate and my head clears, I KNOW i'm finished in the bathroom for a while.  It's like a dual clear out.  I also sneeze violently after eating, usually 3 very big sneezes that leave me feeling bunged up and flu like, just for 5 minutes then it settles.  I read about gustatory rhinitis and overeating but I sneeze sometimes just by having a drink of water, and as I said earlier, just getting out of bed can start it off.  Occasionally, just a couple of times a year, I FEEL FULL OF A COLD FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, BUNGED UP AND SNEEZING, BUT NOT A TRUE COLD and it stops suddenly like a light going out. all very weird but such a relief to find that other people have similar experiences.  I have mentioned to GP  who stared blankly and had never heard of it and I felt like I was being thought of as over anxious or hysterical.  I also have fibromyalgia, IBS, osteoarthritis, small nerve neuropathy, mild sleep apnoe, fluctuating BP.  All low key issues but the sum of them makes life uphill. do you think diet plays a part regards?
Helpful - 0
7790052 tn?1394212118
It might be a type of rhinitis. Some types run in families. My dad had gustatory rhinitis (nose runs while and after eating a meal) and so do I as does one of my brothers. I also have a runny nose after a BM. These types of rhinitis are harmless, a nuisance at most. Allergy medicines don't lessen it, so I just deal with it. If you have allergies, you'll have allergic rhinitis. Google "rhinitis" and the first non-sponsored hit will probably be from Wikipedia, which will give you a few basics. Also check other articles on specific types of rhinitis.  
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Avatar universal
after I totally ****** out all the poop, My sinus completely clears up  !!!!
feels great after I a totally poop out.
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6000155 tn?1378130153
In Kundalini Yoga, there is an energy channel that connects the rectum with the 3rd eye and sinuses.  Activity in the root chakra (rectum, perineum) can stimulate activity in the 3rd eye.  http://www.****.com
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Avatar universal
I finally decided to look this up after about two years of dealing with it. I'm glad to see that I'm not alone!

In my case, as soon as I'm standing after getting out of bed, it starts. If I just lie there, nothing happens, but once I've vertical, the nose blowing starts like the worst cold you can imagine. My issue differs from what I'm hearing in a way that I will try to describe without being gross.

Once I go to the bathroom and release a pretty solid piece of waste, the runny nose settles down but doesn't go away. About 10 to 20 minutes later, I need to go again. This time, it's a bit less solid. After that, the "cold" ends.

This started at the age of 57 for me. At the time of this writing, I'm 59. I want to thank everyone for posting their experiences. I certainly don't feel so all alone now.
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5334795 tn?1366575398
Running nose or leaky nose during bowel movement is a symptom of an irritated and/or dysfunctional digestive system, but mainly the colon.  If you're susceptible to candida overgrowth, diarrhea, constipation or similar symptoms on a regular basis then this symptom is one of many others you probably have.  Things I'd recommend to deal with this issue:  eat smaller meals; drink more water; take probiotics; consider a colon cleanse like Colon Hydrotherapy; consider colon friendly supplements like Aloe Vera in liquid form.
I'm very well acquainted with these symptoms and consulted doctors and naturopathic doctors alike.  My experience tells me that MDs know very little about preventative medicine and not much more about the colon.
Hope this helps.
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Avatar universal
I've had this for YEARS!   An allergist about 10 or 15 years ago said, "Oh, that's ......." and I forget the name. It's driving me nuts that I can't remember what he called it but apparently this situation where a person's sinuses run when they're having a bowell movement is much more common than people understand. There IS an official medical name for this "syndrome" or condition but so far on the internet I can't find it. Mostly all I find are people's rude and STUPID comments about this situation. I've also seen some of THE dumbest "reasons" for this mankind could possibly create.  
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Avatar universal
I have this too - sometimes really bad - also started in middle age - I'm wondering if this is adenoviridae sytemic infection from mucous membranes to colon and parasympathetic response in folks who are becoming immunosuppressed with age, that manifests when the stool decends to the lower colon.  Essentially a secondary infection of the common cold/adeno virus to the membranes of the colon and resulting "cold-like" reaction that then manifests with the presence of stool.   Any docs out there want to take a shot at this?  
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Avatar universal
I also have had this a few years where my nose runs when I poop. My legs used to shake a lot. They don't do that anymore. I'm 41 and I have bad sinus issues but clogged not running.
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Avatar universal
This is unbelievable that so many people has the same reaction and no one really knows the answer.  I am 52 YOA I have been having this problem now for over 5 years.  I am very regular and usually do my business in the morning when I wake up.  It does not matter which bathroom I am using, my nose starts dripping and then I have to start blowing the mucus out of my nose continuously for about 1 hour after the BM.
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Avatar universal
It's due to smooth muscle contraction, the body signals the bowel to secrete mucosa as the muscles contract and relax to pass the feces. The same chemical signal stimulates tears and runny nose. You may even salivate a little. That's all, nothing more. See acetylcholine muscarinic/nicotinic effects for more info
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Avatar universal
I agree. This is  most likely a physiological response to the act of deficating. Although the reason behind the body's response eludes me. You can surmise that this mucus release is not just limited to the olfactory gland, but likely occurs throughout the gastrointestinal tract for lubrication reaons. It's just that we notice it more because it's more obvious to the person when his or her nose runs. A possible way to support this is to examine if there is a higher frequency of rhinorhea (runny nose) in  persons who have Irritable Bowel Syndrome. You would expect a higher incidence of rhinorhea on deification in IBS suffers.
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2201000 tn?1338669608
My nose runs when I poop. My eyes also water sometimes. This is not a bad thing. Dr. Oz actually addressed this when asked if this is normal. He described it as a parasympathetic release and said not only is it normal, it’s one of the necessary functions for cleansing out junk. There are only so many ways the body can eliminate toxins. You either poop, pee, cough or sweat it out. One action commonly triggers another, and we should all be grateful for this. When you sleep, the body detoxes. When you wake, the body is ready to eliminate these toxins. We jumpstart this by drinking a glass of water, a cup of coffee, stretching, taking a few deep breaths, having a cigarette, etc. The idea is that we’re getting the body moving internally. If you’ve ever dieted, detoxed or started an exercise regimen, you may have noticed a substantial uptick in bowel movements, urination, lymphatic cleansing or sweating. Your body is thanking you for finally stimulating the cleansing process via diet and exercise. I’m happy when a good poop makes my nose run. It makes me feel better and cleans me out. Mucus is eliminated rectally and lymphatically. The two go hand in hand. If you’ve noticed only a recent uptick in nose runs while pooping, you may be able to attribute this, at least in part, to eating an unhealthy diet and not exercising enough. If you’ve recently started taking better care of yourself, your body is pushing out the old stuff. This is all good news. The typical American diet is loaded with excess sugars, hormones, preservatives, etc. This builds up toxins, candida and mucus. If you don’t excrete small amounts consistently via healthy diet and exercise, the body waits for a good chance to excrete what it can. Nothing stimulates the cleansing process better than a good bowel movement. My girlfriend makes muesli and we eat out of the same batch throughout the week. I have a few bowls per day, and it keeps my system clean…so clean, in fact, that sometimes I have to slow down because I can feel the after-effects and tummy tenderness from the soluble and insoluble fibers cleansing and scrubbing my system. The muesli helps me poop 2-3 times per day, so I always feel light. I usually go an hour after a meal. When I first began the regimen, my nose would always run when I pooped, because I was eliminating a lot of old buildup. Now my nose runs less, because my system is generally cleaner. I still get a runny nose in the morning with my first bowel movement though. But then again, if I have anything to cough up, it’s early in the morning. Also, our bodies have been sweating out toxins all night…they’re just sitting on the surface waiting to be washed off. Same with morning breath…toxins in the system pushed up and waiting on the tongue to be washed away. If I go on, I’ll become less and less scientific and lose credibility; I’m not a doctor or nutritionist. The point is, we should all be so lucky to have such an efficient cleansing system. The alternative would be to become impacted, dehydrated, lethargic, irritable, toxic and eventually die. If you want to feel better and make it easier on the system, drink more water, eat lighter foods more often in smaller servings, and get a little aerobic and anaerobic exercise in on a regular basis. Then, think yourself healthier and visualize your new and improved self. And when your nose runs, be grateful!
(I’ve seen this question asked in several places; will repost on a few different sites.)
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