Hiccups - when do you get them?
By shywolf
@shywolf (4514)
United States
February 18, 2007 9:24am CST
I was just reading a story about a girl in Florida who has had a bad case of the hiccups for three weeks now. She's been hiccupping 50 times a minute for that period of time, despite tests and seeing doctors :(
I remember when I was a kid, reading a story about a guy who was I think in the Guiness Book of World Records for having the hiccups for years. This always made me nervous. Sometimes the hiccups hurt, lol! I wouldn't want to be stuck with them for even a couple of hours, let alone weeks, months, or years!
What do you think? Have you ever had the hiccups for a long period of time, or have you ever gotten the hiccups just at the worst time possible, like if you had to speak in front of a crowd, go for a job interview, or something important like that?
When's the longest that you've ever had the hiccups?
Feel free to answer any or all of the above questions! ^_^
17 people like this
53 responses
@randomosity_prevails (1110)
•
18 Feb 07
I get the hiccups so frequently. Usually, it's if I've been laughing, eating or drinking too fast, or coughing. They don't stay for very long (I've learned how to get rid of them!), but sometimes they're very inconvenient. Usually, they only last for about ten minutes, and then go.
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
18 Feb 07
I'm not sure how long mine last, but I know that I've also gotten them from drinking too fast. Especially anything carbonated. How do you get rid of yours? I usually just try to drink some water, but that doesn't always seem to work as well as I wish that it would, lol.
2 people like this
@randomosity_prevails (1110)
•
18 Feb 07
I get rid of them by drinking really cold water, and holding my breath below my diaphragm (sp).
2 people like this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
18 Feb 07
Thank goodness I have never gotten them at a real inconvenient time like before a job intereview or something. That would be horrible! I tend to get them when I am drinking something suddently or too fast, especially carbonation,and it seems to cause my breathing to get abnormal for a minute and sure enough, here come the hiccups! I have never had them for more than 10-15 minutes. I try holding my breath for as long as I can, which often gets things back on track for me!
2 people like this
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
18 Feb 07
Wow, I've never noticed my breathing becoming different before the hiccups come on! But as you said, I have definitely noticed that I can get the hiccups from drinking something carbonated too fast. My mother told me about that, and I didn't believe her until it happened to me, lol! Anyway, thank you for that great link that explains more about hiccups! I really appreciate it! ^_^
1 person likes this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
18 Feb 07
I forgot to post this great link that explains what they are and some causes!
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/hiccups/article_em.htm
2 people like this
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
18 Feb 07
MsWolf...
Believe it or not, I hardly get hiccups...Yes, I had some real bangers where mine would hurt, I would just want to cry...lol
The worst time I could have them was when I was having a real serious conversation with a old boyfriend...The more I hiccupped the more frustrated I was trying to converse with him..
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
18 Feb 07
Aw, I'm glad that you don't get the hiccups too terribly often! I guess that I don't, either, depending on how often you consider 'often'. I tend to get them for awhile, like if I get them I'll tend to get them within the same day or the same week, but then I can go months without getting the hiccups, I think. I haven't ever really counted, lol!
I'm sorry that you had to suffer through trying to have a serious conversation with your now ex-boyfriend, having a bad case of the hiccups. I know that that was no fun! :/
1 person likes this
@rosie_123 (6113)
•
18 Feb 07
I do get them, but thankfully not so often. Usually when I get them it's just because I've eaten something too quickly, and it hasn't digested properly. I find that if I have a bout one day, then I might get 2 or 3 more bouts in that same day, until it all clears away. Luckily each bout doesn't last longer than 5-10 minutes though. I try to breathe in, and hold my breath for as long as possible when I get hiccups, or sometimes just sip water very slowly.
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
18 Feb 07
I try to hold my breath, too, sometimes. In fact, I've tried everything that everyone has suggested in here so far - holding my breath, drinking water, breathing more slowly, um.. I can't think of the rest. All of them seem to work at one time or another, but I can't seem to find one cure that helps every single time, lol!
1 person likes this
@rufflenruffle (35)
• India
18 Feb 07
I m not really troubled by the hiccups on a regular basis but yes they do trouble me after running when i take a lota of water they start coming n sometimes its really irritating when thire is less water n we caanot anything in this case.I is not a disease so thre is nothing to worry about it but yes it sometimes be dangerous for people having the Astma or Blood pressure.
@ElicBxn (63568)
• United States
18 Feb 07
I get the hiccups when I have some deep seated thing that is upsetting me. I discovered this in 1973 when my parents were selling the house and every time we talked about it or I even thought about it I got the hiccups! Once I mentioned that it was happening they stopped. Now, whenever I get the hiccups I try and think about what we were talking about, or I was thinking about and if I mention it and acnoknowage it, they don't come back. Now, I'm sure most people don't have this problem, but I find it a quick way to discover what is upsetting me!
@shywolf (4514)
• United States
18 Feb 07
ElicBxn, it sounds like your hiccups are actually helpful! That's cool! I'm glad that they go away so quickly when you acknowledge what the issue is that's bothering you.
I know that I definitely get hiccups when I'm stressed, every once in a blue moon. But I usually seem to get them when I stand up suddenly after sitting or laying down for a long time, like when I get up in the morning. But I definitely agree that stress can cause them, because I've noticed that too. My first thought about this Florida teen was wondering what was stressing her so much that she can't stop hiccupping - but the problem is, after hiccupping for that long, the hiccups themselves would be stressing you so much that you wouldn't need any other stress to keep them going! Ack.
1 person likes this
@nehakalley4 (1918)
• United States
18 Feb 07
Yeah everybody have hiccups , but the reason behind them is I am not aware of. I also have hiccups but not due to nervousness. And whenever I have hiccups I either drink alot of water or scream. I dont remember the longest time for which I have hiccups.
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
•
18 Feb 07
it is generally brought on by nerves and tension, but medical science has yet to determine with certainty what causes them. I get them when ever im particularly nervous but for me, i think i have the cure. If someone tells me to hiccup its focuses my mind and stops it happening lol . Silly i know, but it seems to work
2 people like this
@freesoul (3021)
• Egypt
18 Feb 07
I used to get hiccups a lot as a kid when i laugh too much:) luckily this is doesn't happen much now (although i still laugh a lot :) the last time I had a nasty hiccups fit was last year when it lasted for over 12 hours.. it was a torture, I never thought of it as a cure before but what finally made it disappear was my usual workout and weights training, I think that fast and deep breathing was the key, I just suddenly realized it was gone mid session..
@p3halliwel2005 (3156)
• Philippines
19 Feb 07
Oh that sounds terrible..I don't like having hiccups it kinda hurt my chest...I only get hiccups as I observed when I am thirsty or didn't drink after eating. And it just takes a couple of minutes.. There is an old saying here that if someone has a hiccup especially in babies just get a thread and wet it with your saliva and place the thread on the forehead..I guess this works....:)
@guyinbluepants (225)
• Pakistan
18 Feb 07
lol ... hicups on a jon interview .. that would be interesting ... i dont get that much hiccups ... but ive heard that u get hiccups when ur breathing system is disturbed and to get rid of them we drink water ... eat sugar or sneeze ... if u still cant get rid of them ... i ll tell u THE best folk remedy ... take a paper bag and start breathin into it ... ull get rid of them ...
PEACE !!!
@blacktiger63 (85)
• United States
19 Feb 07
I always have the hiccups when I eat potatos in the morning. It's really annoying because when you drive the cars moves slightly everytime you hicup.
1 person likes this
@Tenerifelynn (575)
•
19 Feb 07
LOL Dont those hiccups come at the most inconvenient time too lol
Can rememeber about 4 years I was at a wedding of a close family friend and as the couple was taking thier vows I had to leave the church as I started with the hiccups.. The poor vicar could not do the service at that point for laughing... I felt a total idiot lol Think I went on for about 30 mins or so lol
Just wish I knew what caused the dreaded things lol
Lynn-Marie
1 person likes this
@girl15star (19)
• United States
18 Feb 07
I read that story about that girl too...that is insane. I remember when I was little I was afraid that I would get the hiccups and never be able to get rid of them! My friends told me there was a disease where that happened and then eventually you would die! I always seem to get hiccups when I laugh alot, but they never seem to last too long, especially when you stop thinking about them, next thing you know, they are gone! One thing that always gets rid of them for me, is drinking through a straw. The amount of liquid and air for some reason stops them, try it next time:)
@kgwat70 (13388)
• United States
18 Feb 07
I seem to get hiccups at the worst possible times and when I least expect it. Sometimes they just happen for no reason at all or that I can think of currently. I know sometimes I get them when I become scared. My hiccups usually last no longer than a half hour at the most as I will drink water to help or burp to get rid of them. It is a terrible feeling to get the hiccups, especially when you are about to do a presentation or do something important at work or even going to bed at night.
@patgalca (18355)
• Orangeville, Ontario
18 Feb 07
I can pretty much predict when I'm going to get the hiccups. First I develop a tickle in my throat that causes me to cough. I can tell by the harshness of the cough that it will develop into hiccups after a couple of coughs. I think take in a deep breath and drink water for as long as I can without breathing. That usually does the trick. If that doesn't then a spoonful of peanut butter will do it. I am beginning to believe it is some sort of spasm of the esophogus.
1 person likes this
@greengal (4286)
• United States
18 Feb 07
Yikes...hiccuping 50 times, gosh I would go crazy. I simply hate it when I get hiccups,and it annoys my hubby even more..lol I try eating sugar, drinking water,holding my breath and even telling my hubby to scare me out of my wits which will distract me! Eventually one of these works..phew..thankfully! I think the longest I had was for 2 days, not continuously though, I has them for atleast 2 hours on one day and for an hour on the other day. I was so tired of the hiccuping,but at the same time felt weird when it stopped. It was like I was forcefully trying to stop something..lol!
1 person likes this
@Alexandria37 (5717)
• Ireland
18 Feb 07
I don't think I could tolerate having the hiccups for three years, though I suppose after that length of time I would learn to live with it. I haven't had the hiccups for years now, and I never had the at an awkward time. On the rare occasions when I did have them, I used to hold my breath for as long as possible and that got rid of them.
1 person likes this
@x3temptationx (677)
• United States
18 Feb 07
Well I get the hiccups a lot but they don't really last long. When I'm eating and I don't have a drink like every minute then I will feel like I got food stuck or something not washed down all the way lol and get the hiccups. Sometimes I just hiccup once at the most random times. My friends and family make fun of me because they just come and I don't even notice anymore but they just think its the funiest thing.
@sharkee (64)
• China
18 Feb 07
The longest I've had hiccups was for about 5-10 minutes and it was really annoying! I don't know how they started but it was all of a sudden. When I was a kid I used to like them because they were a bit funny and my friends would laugh about it too. But as an adult I hate it, but I also seldom get it. Yeah, sometimes they hurt a lot too.
1 person likes this
