Southpinellas: Many prescriptions, but still no hiccup cure

Hundreds of readers inundated the St. Petersburg Times with suggestions after reading Thursday's story about Jennifer Mee, the 15-year-old who started hiccuping three weeks ago and can't stop.

Her story will get even bigger exposure this morning when she and her mother appear on NBC's Today show, along with medical experts who will offer their advice.

The show was one of dozens of offers that poured in from national television and radio outlets such as ABC, CBS, CNN and Inside Edition.

The family chose to go with Today because its producers offered medical assistance, Jennifer's stepfather, Chris Robidoux, said Thursday.

Jennifer tried dozens of Times reader techniques, including one suggestion that she swallow a big dollop of French's mustard. That particular approach made Jennifer gag, but it didn't stop the spasms.

Early Thursday, Jennifer met with a pediatric neurologist. Before that, she had been to several doctors and undergone numerous medical tests.

She and her mother, Rachel Robidoux, left for New York about 3 p.m. Thursday. They were excited about the experience, but most of all they just wanted an answer.

Times readers from throughout the United States suspected deficiencies in potassium and magnesium. They recommended Lamaze breathing techniques, acupuncture and a modified Heimlich maneuver. A chiropractor offered to help. So did an acupuncturist. Several readers suggested hypnosis.

The president of a company that manufactures the Hic-Cup offered to send Jennifer one of its patented devices.

A woman from Pennsylvania wrote in sympathy; her own daughter, who is 13, has been hiccuping since September.

And lots of readers recommended Thorazine, a prescription drug often used to treat schizophrenia.

"I won't let her take it," Chris Robidoux said. "To me, that would be the ultimate last resort."

One popular recommendation called for Jennifer to swallow peanut butter. She has tried that; the Times Web site shows her with a jar of Peter Pan.

That prompted numerous readers to comment on something else: The manufacturer has recalled jars with the code 2111, suspecting that it has been contaminated with salmonella.

Chris Robidoux said he became ill after he ate from the pictured jar on Wednesday, before learning of the recall.

Readers offered an avalanche of hiccup remedies. Some told of similar cases that required surgery or prescription medications, but most offered "tried and true" home remedies. Here's a sampling:

- Eat bananas, as this reader's boss had a 6-week bout attributed to a low potassium level.

- Take a wedge of lemon, pour a packet of sugar on it. Wet all the sugar with Angostura bitters, or hot sauce, bite into the lemon and suck it dry.

- Have someone stand behind the hiccupper and block her ears by pushing down the flaps of the front of the ear while she slowly drinks a glass of water.

- Have the person with hiccups stand facing another person who then flips a quarter into the air. The one with hiccups watches the coin as it goes into the air and as it falls to the ground.

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by ira	04/16/07 03:17 PM
I recall a similar case about 30 years ago that was cured by Pavlovian conditioning. A mild electric shock was administered immediately after or with the hiccups and they disappeared after a few days at most.

by Michelle	03/18/07 02:13 PM
Here I am again friend, Remember i said to go to a italiian docter who gets shots for hiccups.well I was thinking last time you stopped hiccuping at the mall or something, so why dont u go someplace fun so you can take your mind off the hiccups.

by John F DeCosta	03/16/07 10:54 PM
This is something ,my experience has worked 100% of the time. Get a large glass of water, Hold it to your lips,have someone (hold their flat palms on your ears very tight).Now drink all of the water down as fast as you can.Your hiccups will be gone.

by caricole	02/27/07 10:56 PM
Take in as deep a breath as possible, fill up with air till you can't take in anymore air, (you won't hiccup with full lungs) and hold it for as long as possible. 50 seconds or more 2X works all the time Cost nothing, no danger

by Kathee	02/27/07 03:55 AM
I had a man in my shop in Amana, Iowa who had the hiccups for 12 days and the doctors had given him all sorts of meds and this simple, I call it upside down water, worked in a couple of minutes. Take care you dear girl. Post a comment if it works.

by Kathee	02/27/07 03:42 AM
Needed more space... I contacted FOX NEWS twice today but they would not return my call, I wanted to help you with this awful problem. If at first the water doesn't work, do it again. You've had the hiccups for so long it may take a couple of times.

by Kathee	02/27/07 03:38 AM
Hold a glass of water to your mouth, place your lips on the opposite side of the glass where you normally would, your chin will be inside the glass, then, bending over, drink the water... drink as much as you can, keep bending over to get it into you

by rafael	02/26/07 07:20 PM
Change her environment - school and home. I worked with a woman who would hickup several times per hour at work. She left that job and stopped hickups within a week.

by Mark	02/26/07 04:22 AM
These may be helped with the use of a TENS device. Most physical therapists and some chiropractors use these devices.

by victor	02/26/07 04:11 AM
The principle of Reflexology has CERTAIN cure. Use handkerchief to grasp tongue; move fingers so to apply squeeze pressure over as much area as possible; grasp firmly and slowly pull til a 'tugging'is felt at root; this releases spasm.Sure Cure.

by sharon	02/25/07 12:36 PM
My father in law had hiccups and they would not stop. He had to go to the er for them. He was given a nitro pill. This is what engina patients take. It relaxes the heart muscle. It apparently relaxes what is causes the hiccups. Check w/your doctor.

by Sandy	02/24/07 04:20 PM
I wonder if anyone has told her the pink bunny story. I do this each time my teens get the hiccups and the story gets more outrageous that they forget>

by Jill (TCM Student)	02/24/07 02:50 PM
Jennifer, I have tried through several outlets to get you this info for several weeks. Seriously, if you still have them and have not yet tried this...get to the nearest TCM Dr/Acupuncturist ASAP. It may take more than one session, but TCM WORKS!

by Steven	02/24/07 08:50 AM
You can inhibit the n.Phrenicus by pushing in inferior,medial and posterior direction,just lateral of both m.sterno-cleido-mastoideus above collar bone with thumb & index finger,20-30 sec.In many cases this stops the hiccup. steven.

by Ron	02/23/07 10:32 PM
i remember a show in the discovery channer untold stories in the E.R. about a woman who cant stop hicupping for days doctors had a hard time firuing it out till they tried one thing very basic...pressing the bone on her eyebrows for a few min...

by Tammy	02/23/07 11:25 AM
I'm a third grade teacher and use this all the time with my students.Have a parent place their thumbs applying firm pressure just above her collar bone on both sides of her neck.Have her breath through her nose count to 20 silently. Repeat if needed.

by Leah	02/22/07 09:51 PM
Try a Class of Water with a pencil in it My Prayerrs are with you !

by dani	02/22/07 07:15 PM
sometimes drinking carbonated beverages can help relieve hiccups (pop makes you belch) also drinking water while bent over parallel to the floor can push the air bubble up sometimes it only lasts a few minutes but it works

by Marge	02/22/07 10:52 AM
Take a big dose of magnesium to relax the diaphragm.

by horia	02/22/07 01:36 AM
Jennifer dammi il tuo indirizzo e-mail per mandarti ona soluzione dei tuoi tormenti !!! Sbrigati !!!

by walton	02/22/07 12:03 AM
jennifer your breathing is out of order. lay flat on your back on the floor or bed. breath in as much as you can and hold it 5 to 6 sec. let out slowly push all air out of lungs hold 5 to 6 sec. repeat 3 or 4 times then breath normal good luck.

by Jessica	02/21/07 07:52 PM
My aunt insists that if you hold your breath and swallow three times, you'll be cured. It is hard to do, but it can be done, I have watched it work! Good Luck, I hope this helps!

by Jessica	02/21/07 07:49 PM
Try taking a coffee mug full of water and put a match out in it. Drink at a steady pace immediatly after your last hiccup...Don't drink it as fast as you can, just normal but consistant. I heard it on the news and it always works for me.

by wanda	02/21/07 10:52 AM
hold her breath,take thumbs and plug her nose and then fingers to plug ears ,then hold her breath and swollow until she can't hold her breath anymore and then let go. If this sounds confusing to you call me at 864-333-5252 or 864-443-3000.Good Luck !

by Randy	02/20/07 11:10 PM
Hiccups caused by spasm of vagus nerve, a few minutes of moderate pressure on the back of the top 3 cervical vertebrae (toward throat) or upper cervical adjustment by chiropractor will stop the annoyance.

by Elendae	02/20/07 10:35 PM
Has she been tested for acid reflux? I've had similar hiccups caused by it for about 11 years now.

by Brian	02/20/07 10:30 PM
I would like to know what home remedies Jennifer Mee has really tried. The one I posted 02/17/07 has never failed myself, family, friends, or co-workers. Unless there is something medically wrong, I say give up the attention seeking.

by Jen	02/20/07 05:11 PM
Drink a hot Sprite - a good burp will help.

by dany	02/20/07 07:26 AM
try eating without chew cumin seed with water

by Monica	02/19/07 10:48 PM
Drink water while walking backwards. I have not seen it fail yet, this may be the first time if it does not work.

by Nicole	02/19/07 07:17 PM
Try putting a tablespoon of sugar in your mouth, bending over to your toes and taking a sip of water. Make sure to holder your breath until you've swallowed. Swallowing this while upside down always works for me. Hope it works for you.

by Dr. Vadim	02/19/07 06:37 PM
Take as DEEP of a BREATH in as you possibly can (fill your lungs with air)...HOLD IT 10 seconds...and without breathing out SWALLOW some of your spit If it doesnt work 1st time TRY AGAIN...it always works sometimes you need to try x 2-3

by Michelle	02/19/07 04:18 PM
Have you tried holding your breath and taking a couple gulps of water/juice at the same time? I've heard it's suppossed to "reset" your diaphragm. It's what always works for me. Good luck sweets...Hope you get better.

by 1SG McKoy	02/19/07 03:23 PM
Jennifer to get rid of the hiccups you need place your index finger on the back of your tongue and make yourself throw up. Email back if it works km28314@yahoo.com

by Sharon	02/19/07 03:10 PM
Rats, I was going to suggest blocking the ears and drinking water, but don't do it by folding the ear. Just have someone block her ears with their palms and have her drink water slowly, while taking shallow breaths.

Many prescriptions, but still no hiccup cure

A St. Petersburg girl's weekslong case will get national television attention this morning.