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Have you ever had hiccups with or after chemotherapy?

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Jun 11, 2019

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.

Profile picture for nodunk
nodunk | @nodunk | Aug 28, 2022
In reply to @merpreb "That sounds disgusting. lol. I've had hiccups since my last radiation, maybe several times a night...." + (show)
Profile picture for Merry, Alumni Mentor @merpreb

That sounds disgusting. lol. I've had hiccups since my last radiation, maybe several times a night. But they are usually very mild, not bothersome enough to swallow (gag) cider vinegar. WHat encouraged you to try this? When during the day do you take it? Does it help?

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Took as needed. Found idea on internet. Hiccups never mild. Had same problem with belching which continues to this day. Both occur when eating very spicy food which I love. Never had nausea during awful treatments like many do and always ate my favorites. Enjoying food has helped me deal with the many side effects treatments caused mainly neuropathy. Bottom line everyone reacts differently to cancer and there is no cookie cutter answer when one looks for an answer to why me or did this happen to anyone else? I spend time on these blogs to help others with my experience that may make their journey easier.

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Aug 27, 2022
In reply to @nodunk "Had terrible hiccups many times during 6 years of treatments. I found swallowing 1 tablespoon of..." + (show)
Profile picture for nodunk @nodunk

Had terrible hiccups many times during 6 years of treatments. I found swallowing 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar shocked the hiccups away.

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That sounds disgusting. lol. I've had hiccups since my last radiation, maybe several times a night. But they are usually very mild, not bothersome enough to swallow (gag) cider vinegar. WHat encouraged you to try this? When during the day do you take it? Does it help?

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nodunk | @nodunk | Aug 27, 2022
In reply to @auntieoakley "Wow, there is more information there now than 8 or 9 years ago when I looked...." + (show)
Profile picture for Chris, Volunteer Mentor @auntieoakley

Wow, there is more information there now than 8 or 9 years ago when I looked. Thanks for sending that. I do not have them continuously, I will get them 5 to 10 times a day. Almost always with the first bite of food or swallow of drink. I have learned a few techniques to stop them that are around 50% successful. I avoid eating or drinking if I have to be in a meeting or speak, then I pray because sometimes they can just start. Sometimes I will get a round of them that is very difficult, or it seems I will have them more often over a few days. But I met a lady online who had them continuously for years and it scared me a bit. Thankfully, my advocacy work only means sporadic meetings or speaking and my husband rarely notices unless it is a scary one or the occasional round at night now. When we go back to Mayo for his next check, I might just ask for an appointment as well. Maybe there is something. My local doctors just shake their head and look at me like “hiccups! Get serious”. Truly a sense of humor is necessary! Haha I am not sure why the survey asked if we were over 6 ft tall? Do you? I was exactly 6 ft until last year. I still say I am but well aging ain’t for sissies.

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Had terrible hiccups many times during 6 years of treatments. I found swallowing 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar shocked the hiccups away.

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pjsfla | @pjsfla | May 14, 2022

Heavens YES ! I rarely had them before infusion chemo for bc , and after the rad I had them so frequently other people even noticed ! It's settled down now 5 yrs later . Thought it might be a weakening due to rad on left side by heart & lung .

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 30, 2022
In reply to @kevinakear "Hi Colleen: just had a scan last week, the second since completing chemo. All clear but..." + (show)
Profile picture for kevinakear @kevinakear

Hi Colleen: just had a scan last week, the second since completing chemo. All clear but 2 nodules on thyroid since last scan and high WBC continues. The worst part of cancer isn't the treatment: it's the emotional and psychological impacts!

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You're so right Kevin. The emotional and psychological impact of cancer is often overlooked. But cancer patients know this is as important as treatment. You may wish to start a new discussion in the Cancer: Managing Symptoms group (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/cancer-managing-symptoms/) or join in these discussions:
- Stress Management for Cancer: Free online course from Mayo https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/stress-management-for-cancer-free-online-course-from-mayo/
- Emotional health after cancer https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/emotional-health-after-cancer/
- Anxiety due to Cancer https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anxiety-due-to-cancer/

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kevinakear | @kevinakear | Jan 27, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Kevin, how are you now? Are you still in treatment for pancreatic cancer?" + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

Kevin, how are you now? Are you still in treatment for pancreatic cancer?

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Hi Colleen: just had a scan last week, the second since completing chemo. All clear but 2 nodules on thyroid since last scan and high WBC continues. The worst part of cancer isn't the treatment: it's the emotional and psychological impacts!

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 27, 2022
In reply to @kevinakear "No. No one realized what was going on until I went home 12 days post surgery...." + (show)
Profile picture for kevinakear @kevinakear

No. No one realized what was going on until I went home 12 days post surgery. I developed plural effusion which compressed my right lung and my liver resulting in a return trip to the hospital for another 12 days. During that stay, I had a thoracentesis with 500 ml taken out every other day until IVR finally intervened and put in a drain. It doesn’t end there, but the next phase is a story for another day.

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Kevin, how are you now? Are you still in treatment for pancreatic cancer?

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kevinakear | @kevinakear | Jan 23, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Oh my goodness, Kevin, that is quite a serious bout of hiccupping. Thank goodness for the..." + (show)
Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

Oh my goodness, Kevin, that is quite a serious bout of hiccupping. Thank goodness for the calm head and helpful intervention of the young nurse.

Was the stent eventually replaced?

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No. No one realized what was going on until I went home 12 days post surgery. I developed plural effusion which compressed my right lung and my liver resulting in a return trip to the hospital for another 12 days. During that stay, I had a thoracentesis with 500 ml taken out every other day until IVR finally intervened and put in a drain. It doesn’t end there, but the next phase is a story for another day.

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jan 23, 2022
In reply to @kevinakear "Violent hiccups after Whipple surgery. So violent, the stent broke free and had so much swelling,..." + (show)
Profile picture for kevinakear @kevinakear

Violent hiccups after Whipple surgery. So violent, the stent broke free and had so much swelling, the surgeon was unable to go back in and correct the problem. Not one to mince words, his words were “ NO chance of survival!” The only thing that helped was a young male nurse ordered throat lozenges from the pharmacy and had me hold them on the roof of my mouth with my tongue. That was good for several hours of relief. After four or five days, the hiccups went away with infrequent bouts during chemotherapy.

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Oh my goodness, Kevin, that is quite a serious bout of hiccupping. Thank goodness for the calm head and helpful intervention of the young nurse.

Was the stent eventually replaced?

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kevinakear | @kevinakear | Jan 16, 2022

Violent hiccups after Whipple surgery. So violent, the stent broke free and had so much swelling, the surgeon was unable to go back in and correct the problem. Not one to mince words, his words were “ NO chance of survival!” The only thing that helped was a young male nurse ordered throat lozenges from the pharmacy and had me hold them on the roof of my mouth with my tongue. That was good for several hours of relief. After four or five days, the hiccups went away with infrequent bouts during chemotherapy.

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