Medical Problems....Non Valk

[DIGGER]

Looking for cures......    my 41 yr old son has developed a very rare medical problem.   He has had chronic hiccups for over 3 months now.    He cant quit hiccuping.   I know this opens the door for some funny responses.....and I am ok with that but it is causing him major life problems.   He owns and operates a 40+ employee air conditioning company and he cant sleep...go to meetings....eat.....and at times breathe.    He has been to gastrologists....surgeons....mds and just about every kind of doctor that could possibly be envolved.    All his lab tests show normal and they have sent cameras and scopes down his throat and numerous other proceedures trying to find the problem.   One doctor this week asked him if he has had covid and yes he did just before this started.  That doc is thinking it might be caused by nerve damage from the covid.    My son and his family just had light symptoms while having covid.    And no they have not had vaccinations.   

My question is has anyone heard if this or known of anyone who has.   If so could you let me know what it turned out to be.    We are down to asking everyone we have contact with looking for the cause of the problem.   His life is a wreck right now....cant get good rest....has trouble eating....has trouble taking care of day to day issues.    Any responsinle responses would be appreciated.  Thanks

[Rams]

I am in no way qualified to make any suggestions about this.
Nerve damage due to COVID?   I suppose anything is possible.

Has he considered hypnosis, counselling or possibly psychiatric assistance?   I'm not suggesting anything, I am simply offering up alternatives.   Again, this is coming from someone with absolutely no qualifications to suggest anything, just trying to help.

Rams

[Serk]

Never had 'em for more than an hour or two, and I'm sure by now he's been told this and tried it, but - drink pickle juice.

Take a deep breath, drink pickle juice, hold that breath while drinking more pickle juice.

Repeat a few times.

Admittedly, I doubt it's something that simple by this point, but worth a shot at least.

And on the COVID front, it appears he might not be alone in this:

https://www.healthline.com/health/is-hiccups-a-sign-of-coronavirus#stopping-hiccups

https://www.cureus.com/articles/48807-be-wary-of-hiccups-an-unusual-case-of-covid-19

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2020/08/05/are-hiccups-a-sign-of-covid-19-coronavirus-here-is-what-happened-in-this-case/?sh=2953a06fc1c3

[hubcapsc]

Run three miles, or ride your bicycle uphill, or... until you're
gasping for breath... I've cured 'em that way, anyhow...

-Mike

[Valkorado]

Really sounds like an awful predicament.  I also share your COVID suspicions.  Prayers for your son's relief from this.

[Jess from VA]

No answers,  But I have had the hickups for 30 minutes (and the sneezes for 10 minutes), and it absolutely drives me crazy.

I hold my breath until I turn blue, and it (usually) stops.  But hasn't happened for years and years.

At least one avenue would be to search for a particular allergen that never caused a problem before, but which does now, and which he is seemingly constantly exposed to.

Is he on any long term meds?  If so, they need looked at.

Allergen: a substance that causes an allergic reaction.  Allergists recognize four types of allergic reactions: Type I or anaphylactic reactions, type II or cytotoxic reactions, type III or immunocomplex reactions and type IV or cell-mediated reactions.

[Bret SD]

That's a tough one.. Sometimes our HC system falls far short of helping people.

I'd look toward the vagus nerve and try different treatments or therapies. YT University has many videos on calming the vagus nerve. With 40+ employees my guess is he's a high stress guy which doesn't help anything.

Drinking water from the other side of the glass, or upside down has worked for me in the past, though I can't remember the last time I had hiccups. Long term hiccups are another animal and likely has some nerve involvement. Since I started doing intentional breath work I've not had hiccups once, that may be another avenue to explore. I use the Buteyko method with some modifications adapted from the Wim Hof method. I'll also do some pure Wim Hof breathing but Buteyko is what I do for ~an hour upon waking.

Calming the vagus nerve and training the body to use less air will go a long way toward helping him I believe as hiccups are an involuntary spasmodic inhalation.
'The Oxygen Advantage' is a great book and explains well how using less air helps get more oxygen into the body cells through the Bohr Effect. When you do that nothing but good things happen in the body.

Bottom line is he's going to have to research a lot and doctor himself, of course others can help him but conventional medicine may fall short and require it. My guess is he'll eventually cure himself and come out of it with a ton more knowledge. A bout with ultra high stress induced a severe Candida outbreak in me several years ago, that was my 'great awakening'.. and this could be his. Conventional medicine couldn't help me so I had to help myself and he can do it too.

His journey will likely lead him to.. 'everything'.. nerve strategies, breath work, nutrition, supplements, exercise, stress mitigation methods like meditation and yoga.. the rabbit hole goes deep, and there's gold down there if you search for it. This could be a huge positive depending on how he views it.

[J.Mencalice]

Smoke one up or grab some advice (dosage) and edibles at the local cannabis pharmacia.
Relaxing the diaphragm and the mind just may hold some value.
Rest and sleep just may come to him.

https://thirdage.com/marijuana-a-cure-for-hiccups/

[f6gal]

Nerve damage from Covid?  Perhaps.  But, there is also a chance that he is suffering from a lingering Covid infection or "long-Covid."  I wouldn't drop the possible Covid connection quickly.  What did the doctor that suggested Covid recommend?  

A course of Covid treatment may be helpful.  Also, getting the vaccine may be helpful.  
Approximately 40-50% of long-Covid patients have experienced symptom relief after being fully vaccinated.  One theory for this response is that low levels of the virus persist, but are unable to stimulate a sufficient immune response to clear the virus; they continue to irritate the immune system and cause symptoms.  The vaccine may give the immune system the boost it needs to clear the virus.
https://www.webmd.com/vaccines/covid-19-vaccine/news/20210317/some-with-long-haul-covid-see-relief-after-vaccination

Aside from the potential Covid connection, there are a number of medications or treatment modalities that can be effective for intractable hiccups.  You didn't say if any have been tried.

[Davemn]

I don’t know where you are but a trip to Rochester MN to the Mayo Clinic may just give you the cure. It’s an amazing place. Good luck.

[Rams]

 One theory for this response is that low levels of the virus persist, but are unable to stimulate a sufficient immune response to clear the virus; they continue to irritate the immune system and cause symptoms.

Oh, very similar to some of our own members. 

 The vaccine may give the immune system the boost it needs to clear the virus.

Will the staff be giving such injections at InZane?

Hey, he said he expected some humorous responses................   

Rams 

[Bighead]

Phenergan.

[DIGGER]

Thanks for all the input.  My wife has some phenagrin for him to try,  gonna get him to go get vaccinated,  and we will do some if the other thoughts you guys have.    Great responses....thanks

[DIGGER]

Smoke one up or grab some advice (dosage) and edibles at the local cannabis pharmacia.
Relaxing the diaphragm and the mind just may hold some value.
Rest and sleep just may come to him.

https://thirdage.com/marijuana-a-cure-for-hiccups/

The last doctor he went to gave him a prescription for THC.    He only takes it at night and that does work for about 4 hrs.   Cant take it during the day and run a business.   Also cant drive when taking it.   Thats only a short time fix but it does buy him a little sleep.   

[The emperor has no clothes]

Smoke one up or grab some advice (dosage) and edibles at the local cannabis pharmacia.
Relaxing the diaphragm and the mind just may hold some value.
Rest and sleep just may come to him.

https://thirdage.com/marijuana-a-cure-for-hiccups/

The last doctor he went to gave him a prescription for THC.    He only takes it at night and that does work for about 4 hrs.   Cant take it during the day and run a business.   Also cant drive when taking it.   Thats only a short time fix but it does buy him a little sleep.   

Maybe he doesn’t need to be stoned out of his gourd for it to work. If it were me, I’d try a bong hit and see if it helped. (But I’m a degenerate law breaker)

[Serk]

Been wondering about this lately, has he managed to get any long term relief yet?

[Chrisj CMA]

This may sound like a strange question but does he have any hearing issues like a blocked ear?  That can irritate the Vegus nerve and cause hiccups. Read up on vegus nerve and hiccups. Pulling gently on the tongue is one thing suggested related to the Vegus nerve and hiccups  

[f6gal]

Any update?