Have you ever had hiccups with or after chemotherapy?

We all know what hiccups are, right? They are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm — the muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen and plays an important role in breathing. Each contraction is followed by a sudden closure of your vocal cords, which produces the characteristic "hic" sound.

Mayo Clinic investigators want to learn more about hiccups in people who are receiving cancer treatment and, if you have experienced hiccups, how they may have affected your quality of life.

So, whether you’ve had hiccups or not, we asked Connect members to take part in a survey. Responses in the survey remain anonymous and are kept completely confidential. The survey is now closed. I will share the results of survey after analysis.
In the meantime, feel free to take part in this discussion about hiccups, if you want to share.

Have you had hiccups after chemotherapy? If yes, were they different than you’ve experienced before? Did they bother you or affect your daily living?

+++Study Results+++
Frequency and Symptomatology of Hiccups in Patients With Cancer: Using an On-Line Medical Community to Better Understand the Patient Experience
By C Ehret, C Young, C Ellefson, L Aase, A Jatoi
Published April 1, 2021
https://doi.org/10.1177/10499091211006923

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Cancer: Managing Symptoms Support Group.

I forgot all about this. It’s been a minute since my post.

What I had wasn’t due to chemo because at that time I had not ever had chemo.

It was just from the whipple procedure or perhaps medication given to me when in the hospital.

I’m glad that is over. But with this cancer there’s always a new mountain to climb it seems.

@casey1959 🩷

REPLY
Profile picture for azsunshine7 @azsunshine7

I started getting what seemed like hiccups but were longer and were actually forced gasps of air after my whipple surgery.

Jump to this post

@azsunshine7 Husband had bad hiccups in hospital after the Whipple. Very bothersome. Was given a muscle relaxer that helped some yet still persisted for about 5 days.

REPLY
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

@auntieoakley, that is funny that you're husband said he dreamed of going over speedbumps because in his light sleep he heard your hiccups. You have a great sense of humor. Did you or do you ever experience hiccups during the day or was it primarily at night (and presumably due to low oxygen levels)?

@odette, I appreciate hearing from the "no" side as well. I would like to hear more about your journal and symptom tracking. Would you mind starting a new discussion dedicated to the topic? It would be great advice for others and then we can also hear from members if and how they tracked their symptoms.
Here's how to start a new discussion:
1. Go to the Cancer group: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/cancer/
2. Click START A DISCUSSION.
3. Enter a title. For example, "Keeping a Symptom Tracking Journal" or "Did you keep track of your symptoms during cancer treatment?"
4. Write your message.
5. Click POST DISCUSSION.

Jump to this post

@colleenyoung I have had hiccups for five years now
I get them for two or three days continuously than they are gone for about seven days. Have tried drugs, tried changing what I eat and drink, now doing acu puncher, no luck
Have been told about the dolphin machine will look at it next . I am 87 they are driving me nuts.
Had steroids and chemo for lymphoma b non Hoskins
Any advice welcomed

Thanks

REPLY

My husband experienced hiccups the night of his first Flofirinox infusion that would not stop, worsened when lying flat. They persisted for 12 hours but did not reoccur. Oncologist when he called said that could happen but usually resolves and to call if it didn’t, it was gone by the following morning. Second round yhe changed IV steroid from Decadron to Solumedrol, he experienced difficulty with retching that round, non-nausea related and without emesis. Triggered by smells or idea of eating. Was persistent throughout the 12 days post infusion. Resolved with Oxyplatin dose reduction for third treatment. He did not experience again for the remaining 7 treatments he completed. Hope this is helpful for you and others receiving their treatment.

REPLY

Yes! Hiccups often during n after chemo & radiation. I was told it was due to the area they were treating. I was diagnosed w/SCLC last year, it became painful towards the end of treatment. I also noted burping, which I never could do b4 treatment. Once radiation was done the Hiccups faded away. Interesting that Hiccups, burping are common side effects.

REPLY

I've had hiccups during chemo treatment for myeloma. They were intermittent and fairly mild but occasionally kept me up at night. I believe dexamethasone caused the hiccupping because they diminished when the dosage was lowered. I was prescribed a muscle relaxant (baclofen) to reduce my hiccupping and it seemed to help the few times I tried it.

REPLY
Profile picture for djchambers @djchambers

I have hiccups sometimes about 30 minutes to an hour after taking capecitabine. I take a Pepcid and that helps.

Jump to this post

@djchambers That is interesting. I have never had hiccups while om capecitabine. It just goes to show that our bodies are all different.

REPLY

I started getting what seemed like hiccups but were longer and were actually forced gasps of air after my whipple surgery.

REPLY
Profile picture for bobgallen @bobgallen

Where can I find the survey results fo hiccup
I did the survey at the time
Bob allen

Jump to this post

@bobgallen, here it the link to the journal article with the results of the study.
Frequency and Symptomatology of Hiccups in Patients With Cancer: Using an On-Line Medical Community to Better Understand the Patient Experience
By C Ehret, C Young, C Ellefson, L Aase, A Jatoi
Published April 1, 2021
https://doi.org/10.1177/10499091211006923
Thank you for participating at the time of the survey!

REPLY

I have hiccups sometimes about 30 minutes to an hour after taking capecitabine. I take a Pepcid and that helps.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.