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.

kevinakear | @kevinakear | Jan 27, 2022

In reply to @colleenyoung "Kevin, how are you now? Are you still in treatment for pancreatic cancer?" + (show)

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!

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)

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

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)

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.

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)

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?

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.

Becky, Volunteer Mentor | @becsbuddy | Jan 13, 2022

In reply to @vherzog777 "Hubby started chemo Thursday. Developed a nasty case of hiccups all night long! Any suggestions??? When..." + (show)

@vherzog777 Hiccups are no fun even though we all start laughing when someone gets them. And, boy, did i get hiccups. I don’t know which of all my medications started them. I always got them at dinner time. And i still get them occasionally, even though I’m not on chemo or monoclonal antibodies now, I don’t have any special remedies to suggest, sorry. Tell your husband that were all silently rooting for him!

jak2invb | @jak2invb | Jan 11, 2022

I was diagnosed with JAK2 617F in 2/2020 and began hydroxyurea treatment in 4/2022. I just started to experience hiccups in mid 12/2021. I do not experience hiccups daily, nor is it lengthy when I do. However, it is noticeable that I get hiccups a few times each week for about a minute each time.

vherzog777 | @vherzog777 | Jan 11, 2022

Yes. Peanut butter did the trick! Crazy!

Chris, Volunteer Mentor | @auntieoakley | Jan 11, 2022

In reply to @vherzog777 "Hubby started chemo Thursday. Developed a nasty case of hiccups all night long! Any suggestions??? When..." + (show)

I have taken much chemo, and have had many hiccups. I understand the hurting from violent hiccups all night. I hope this is a temporary thing for him. I found that holding my breath and slowly drinking a big glass of water will often make them stop for a while. Has your husband tried any of the home remedies?