A popular topic on the Hodgkin's Disease Mail List lately has been chemo and hiccups. I hadn't thought of there being a correlation, but that is because I have a history of ulcers, which bring on hiccups, and the chemo has brought back my ulcer. Many other patients, without a similar ulcer history, have confirmed, however, that the hiccups are definitely related to the chemo.
The hiccups themselves can range from an occasional hiccup that is similar to a hiccup combined with a burp to all the time hiccups that last for days, even while sleeping in some cases. The milder form is not very problematic. Just an occasional thing in groups of one or two to release some of the gas pressure in the abdomen. The other kind, however, can be very annoying. If not to you then to a spouse or loved one trying to sleep! There is help, though.
Most patients report being prescribed Thorazine, and that this cleared up the problem right away. This is a good reminder that no matter how silly or inconsequential something seems, if it bothers you, ask your doctor about it. There is no reason to live with an inconvenience or annoyance if the problem can be simply solved.
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