In September, I posted about a connection between a sudden onset of severe nausea and sneezing. I was delighted when three other people informed me that they had also experienced the phenomenon … and were willing to share details of their medical history and current medications with me so that we could compare notes, in the hopes of finding some common denominator.

Since then, I’ve heard from a lot more people, and we’re added a few more variables!

I want to thank Brad Wright of Anatomy Notes who posted the original article about photic sneezes, which gave rise this entire conversation to begin with. He named the condition: “Sneeze-Associated Nausea (SAN for short)” … sounds good to me! (Good luck in medical school, Brad!!! :o)

Below is the history of everyone who’s left a comment or communicated with me so far. Don’t forget to check the poll in the left sidebar for stats. You medical sleuths out there! Any input? Any ideas? What do you think the common factor is, or do you think there is one?

History #1:

It’s so strange yet comforting to know that this odd phenomenon happens to someone else. I’m not sure why but I’ve never mentioned it to my doctor. Have you?

As far as my medical history goes, I am a 44-year-old, caucasian female. I have Type 2 diabetes and hypertension. My labs most usually come back normal with slight variences in my glucose levels. I am on a seemingly endless regimen of medications including metformin, Atacand, Avandia, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Aciphex, Yasmin, Zyrtec, and Zocor and last week I began Byetta injections to stablize my blood sugar levels. In addition to all of this I take a couple over-the-counter items including Vitamin E, a multi-vitamin and New Phase herbal supplement for symptoms of menopause.

My antihypertensive is Atacand 32mgs daily. I was put on this med because I couldn’t tolerate the ACE 2 inhibitors. It caused me to have a bothersome dry cough. It was so bad I couldn’t sleep at night.

I am overweight but since changing my diet, due to the diabetes, I have started to lose weight. Hooray! I’ve had no major surgeries and only had a general anesthesia one time to have my wisdom teeth removed. (valuim and versed IV).

I suspect I have some type of auto-immune disorder but it’s never been diagnosed. I have frequent fatigue that sometimes lasts for days. My practitioner did an Epstein-Barr titer and it was quite high but I don’t know how to interpret the results. I’ve looked online with no luck. I had mono about 10 years ago and just haven’t felt “right” since.

Extra comment from #1: Hi, everyone! I am the “History #1″ person…the one without the growths. In the last month a “suspicious” marble-sized mass was found in my breast. I am currently being evaluated. I know at this point it is a solid mass, not a fluid-filled cyst. We’ll see what happens.

And, although I’m a nurse, I haven’t worked for a couple of years. I’m taking some much needed time off. :)

History #2:

I am a 49 year old woman in good health. The only major health issue I’ve had is melanoma in-situ removed from my left knee in 2004. Get checked regularly. I take no meds other than supplements. I am a new nurse. I’ve been really worried about this. (brain tumor, sinus tumor?) I saw a handful of people on the internet that have this same thing, and no doctor seemed to know what it is.

Benign pituitary tumor-hmm-I also have a history of benign growths (fibroids, thryoglossal cysts, ovarian cysts, etc).

It is so bizarre when it happens. I don’t sneeze alot, but this happens a couple times a week. It happened today, in fact, and the nausea was so extreme I got a little scared. I never vomit, though, the stomach is not involved at all. And once I sneeze, everything is fine. I wonder if there is a tumor situation, increased intercranial pressure? Who knows.

Extra comment from #2: Hi folks, I am the History #2 person above. You know how migraine sufferers sometimes have an “aura” that tells them a migraine is coming? That’s what this nausea is like-when I feel it I know a sneeze is coming. Bizarre!!

History #3:

I am 50(just) live in [...] Australia., I saw your post on a website about sneezing What you described is EXACTLY like my complaint…and I have been trying to find the cause. I thought it may be due to some medication I am on ????

I am a type 2 diabetic and am on Lipitor (cholesterol) and a new anti triglyceride drug as well as metformin(diabetes) and coversil (blood pressure).

History #4:

I’m a 54 year old caucasian female. I have a history of cysts (ovarian, kidney, breast, etc.,) and fibroids, have chronic kidney failure and hypertension, secondary anemia, secondary hyperparathyroidism … and was told as a young woman that I probably have a benign pituitary tumor, although it was never verified, but he felt certain enough that he told me to avoid hormone therapy later in life. I am not diabetic, but have to keep an eye on triglyceride levels.

I’m taking Lipitor, Hyzaar, Clonidine, Norvasc, Calcitriol, adult aspirin daily, and monthly injections of Aranesp.

History #5:

Ok Moof, I’m here to expound as promised. :)

You asked me to put my conditions and medications. If you’re ready and you’re readers are ready …here we go. Warning for everyone, it looks far worse in the telling than it does in the reading!!! No pity!!!

Let’s do the conditions first, otherwise my medications will not make sense because you’ll think why in the world is 41 year old taking all this medication????

Myasthenia Gravis
Lupus (joints, costochondritis, pleurisy, MINOR pericarditis, mouth sores, lupus cystitis, hair loss, fatigue ….)
Asthma
GERD, History of ulcers, quite a few that left scars
Pyloric spasm, Hiatel Hernia, scars in my esophogus.
Osteoarthritis in knees, right hip, and shoulders
Hypermobile Joint Syndrome (born with it, my mom would dislocate my hips when she’d change my diaper, if they picked me up like they did a normal kid, they’d dislocate my shoulders. This is the cause of the early onset Osteoarthritis)
Eating Disorder -NOS ( large cause of most of the gastro intestinal problems)
Polyps on throat (probably also caused by eating disorder)
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Metabolic Syndrome (Insulin Restistance)

There are a few other things too but my mind is frying now, so on to the medications.

Mestinon 60 MG 3-4 times a day
Mestinon Timespan 180 mg 2 times a day
Cellcept 500 mgs .. 2 tablets …3 times a day
Prednisone 5 mgs …daily
Ultram 3 daily
Celebrex 100 mg daily
Actos 15 mg daily
Crestor 5 mg daily
Topomax 150 mg daily
Zyrtec 10 mg daily
Prozac not telling on blog world lol
Macrodantin 100 mg daily
Atrovent 2 puffs 3 times a day
Advair 50/250 2 times daily
Albuterol (PRN)
Flonase (PRN)
Frova (PRN, Migraines)
Ambien 10 mg bedtime
Nexium 40 mg daily
Xopenex (PRN, nebulizer)
Toprol XL 25 mg daily
Darvocet N 100 (PRN)

Okkkkkkkkkay …. anyone not fainted yet?

History #6:

A comment from Gwyn: I too have this problem, but it just developed recently. I thought it funny at first. Now, I’m wondering what it is. I have autoimmune problems: Lupus, mixed connective tissue disease, Raynaud’s, blood problems, and I take my share of meds too, including low dose prednisone, plaquenil, female hormones, wellbutrin, and cymbalta. If anyone figures out the connection, I’d sure like to know. I’m a 43 year old white female. I’ve had the medical problems since I was in my early twenties, but it didn’t become full blown until I had my second child.

History #7:

A comment from Susan:: Hi,

I too have the sneeze/nausea/bright lights connection. I am 39, caucasion, very fair-skinned. I’m not asthmatic and I don’t have any known allergies.

I have had this for many years, including whilst I was physically fit, on no medication and throughout pregnancy. The bright light connection began during childhood, I first became aware of the nausea/sneeze connection as an adult – maybe in my 20s. The nausea connection increased during pregnancy and when I get pre-sneeze nausea now I am reminded of being pregnant – not in a good way, it is a very unpleasant sensation, but clears completely once I have sneezed – usually a couple of times.

My husband is very sceptical of the phenomenon – especially the bright lights one – he thinks it is attention-seeking and would probably have me tried as a witch if we were in the 17th century ;-)!

I’d love to know more about it.

My mother developed sneezing fits in her middle age – she attributes this to pollen though & there is no mention of associated nausea.

With warmest wishes,

Susan
UK

History #8:

A comment from Tracy Roeder:I’m a rookie at this so I apologize if I’ve posted this twice. I am so relieved to find others who suffer from nausea before they sneeze. I have asked every doctor that I’ve seen for the last couple of years and they look at me like I’m crazy. I am desperately trying to find out why this happens. The nausea starts about 2 minutes before the sneeze comes on. The last straw was throwing up in my office before I could get to the bathroom. I am 37 and in pretty good health. I recently had a CT scan and MRI (for Bell’s Palsy) but both came back negative. I also have tachycardia (rapid heart beat)…at first I thought this might have something to do with the sneezing… I take Nexium and Toprol but had the nausea issue before I began taking the Toprol. Thanks to everyone for posting their comments. And to Moof! I feel better knowing I’m not the only person. Tracy

Added comment from Tracy: I forgot to mention that the CT and MRI were on the brain. Nothing unusual was seen.

History #9:

A comment from Marcie: I just sent you an email after seeing a post on another site. I am a 35 yr old woman. This has been going on with me for a while. I have some sort of undiagnosed as of yet autoimmune disease and my kneecaps are shot from being hypermobile. But am otherwise in good health. I do take cymbalta and phentermine. I am overweight and now losing weight without trying- so I have some concern there. Iam on diet pills but have been on them for quite awhile and the weight loss is new. I will think I am feeling suddenly sick and then -bam- I sneeze and it is gone. Everyone thinks I am nuts!! Nice to see others with the same weird thing!!!!

History #10:

A comment from Kelly: have the nausea/sneeze connection as well, but does not seem to be connected with bright light. It seems to occur only when I take vitamins or medication on an empty stomach. I am a 39yo female, have no known conditions and do not currently take any prescription meds, and am in excellent health. I used to take Tetracycline for acne when I was 18 or so, which was when I first noticed the connection. I currently take several vitamins with breakfast, and found if I wait until my breakfast settles, then take my vitamins, I do not get the nausea feeling(or sneeze.) But if I take the supplements prior to or while eating, the nausea/sneeze usually occurs. Hope this helps(and doesn’t add to the confusion!)

History #11:

A comment from Laura Dawn: I also have nausea before sneezing which usually ends the nausea. I have diabetes, hypertension, fibromyagia and depression. This phenomenon has only been happeing for about 6 weeks. I’m a 59 year old female. I take metformin, glucotrol, diovan, coreg, lexapro, trammodol and just started cymbalta a few days ago. I had a fatty tumor removed and a bad parathyroid gland. I would love to know the cause of the sneezing. Actually I don’t mind the sneezing but the nausea is no fun.

History #12:

A comment from Jim Floyd: I just came across this thread. I’m a 40 yo male and this nauseous sneeze thing started 2 months ago for me. Three months ago i began taking adderall for ADD and have assumed this was just another side effect.

(Moof’s note: Although there’s not much information here, I included this one because he’s one of only two males who’ve responded so far … I was beginning to think that it only happened to women …)

History #13:

A comment from Michael Cruise: Hi just found this site, thank you everyone. I am a 38 year old male and have just started to develop this condition over the past 3 months. So here is my story

Healthy, only 1 operation ever to remove a salivary gland blocked by stones. Had hay fever since I was about 12 years old which was quite severe when I was younger but has been manageable in recent years.

About 6 months ago I began to get severe night sweats. This was weird as I had absolutely no other symptoms and felt fantastic. Went to the doctors and had extensive blood work done which came back perfectly clear. Sometime during the many blood tests I began to feel a sudden feeling of nausea so severe that I have to sit down. It has never caused me to throw up but the feeling generally lasts for between 20 seconds to 5 mins and always ends with a single sneeze. It is so embarrasing at work when this happens (generally 2 to 3 times a day).

Anyway, not long after the nausea started and during the tests, the night sweats stopped and I began to have stomach pains. Blood work started to show increase in enzymes produced by the pancreas. Doctor said I had pancreatitis. Suspecting stones I had xrays, ultra sound CT Scan and when these all came back clear they went in had a look and took a sample. Everything came back clear. After about 3 weeks the pancreatitis went, the sweats stopped and all I was left with was a doctor who told me I was so healthy I should expect to live a very long life and this rotten condition of acute nausea followed by a sneeze.

History #14:

A comment from Tracy: I am a 40 year old woman that just came across this site today, I have had this for as long as I can remember,Yes ive had my share of illnesses but im healthy. I dont take any meds from a Doctor, My over the counter meds consist of Ibuprophen. I usually get it in the mornings, it dont go away with eating. Ive asked many of people about this and i get the same look everytime,(get the straight jacket). Like I said, Ive had this all my life it seems and its not daily but more of a few times a week. I would really like to know if I need to go get checked out for anything. It seems that all here posting have had thier shares of health issues.

Any new “Sneeze Associated Nausea” sufferers out there?

Any medical types with a hint of what could be causing “SAN”?

How about someone who’s already been included above who has an update – or more complete information – for us?

Either email me or leave us a comment in the comments section!

Posted: Saturday, October 28th, 2006 at 10:43 am under: Health & Medicine. Comment Feed (RSS 2.0). Interact: Trackback.