Hicupps Plz Help....?

Question

my friends father is havng a problem of hiccups, for past 2 years if he starts to hiccup, he hiccups continuosly for 2 - 3 days. he does not have problem for ouple of weeks and again continuos hiccups for 2-3 days... constulted doctors but have not got a clear solution.
Plz let me know if you have any solutions / suggestion and which department of docs deal with this problems and solution.
Thanks

Answer 1

Hiccups are caused when the vagus nerve that runs from the back of your throat to your anus gets irritated or stimulated.......many causes thet range from overeating,air swallowing,acid reflux that cause the irritating few minute to hour hiccups or more serious reasons such as a brain tumor,Gi tumors , scarring of the esophogus, so maybe he should see another doctor.

Answer 2

The nerve that causes hiccups (diaphragmatic spasm) is the phrenic nerve which travels along side each side of the spine through the chest.

Sometimes, the first sign of a tumor mass is irritation of the phrenic nerve, and usually the tumor is in the bronchi.

Now, by "tumor" that does not necessarily mean malignant. A tumor mass is anything that does not belong there that causes a mass. Enlarged lymph nodes, particularly with granulomas (a type of reaction to infection) can irritate the phrenic nerve.

You don't say what kind of doctors were consulted. Did he go to ER? If so, they might not pay attention as this is not an emergency condition, and they are there to treat emergencies. I would suggest a good internal medicine doctor. A high resolution CT of the chest can rule in/rule out the above possibility.

If it turns out not to be anatomic, try this to get rid of hiccups:
Take a spoonful of granulated sugar, open the mouth wide and put the sugar as far back on the tongue as possible, and try to swallow it dry. Harvard came up with that one, and it works for me.

Another solution to tics (repetative muscle spasm>diaphragm in this case) is to get Tums or other source of calcium containing antacid. Eat as many as you can choke down as fast as you can, up to ten or twelve. Within 20 minutes there should be relief. Don't do this if you have had kidney/bladder stones though.

Best wishes.

Answer 3

There are two methods I know of that will stop hiccups. First, take a number 2 lead pencil and hold it between the teeth. Drink a few sips of water and they will disappear. Second, take a tablespoon of vinegar and drink.

Answer 4

I am a cancer nurse, some of the chemo drugs cause hiccups. We normally give very low dose Thorazine. It works really well. Maybe he can ask for a prescription for a few pills

Answer 5

Beats me.