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Teen's continuous hiccups are heard around the world
By Mary Jane Park
Published February 16, 2007
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Jennifer Mee of St. Petersburg has tried scores of remedies and seen several doctors. Still, the 15-year-old's hiccups persist.
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[Times photo: John Pendygraft]
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Her unstoppable hiccups have made St. Petersburg’s Jennifer Mee a media star.
The 15-year-old Northeast High School student appeared Friday on NBC’s Today show, with hosts Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer, and New York University Medical Center gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Raj.
The hiccups subsided briefly, as Jennifer talked about the physical pain she is suffering and recounted how the unusual bout has prompted people to accuse her of being pregnant or abusing alcohol. But as soon as she stopped chatting, the spasms resumed.
There was no surcease even after a hug from country singer Keith Urban, another Friday guest on the show.
The public flooded NBC with quirky hiccup cures, just as they did the St. Petersburg Times when it first reported the story early this week.
In a second segment on the show, Jennifer and her mother, Rachel Robidoux, talked with Natalie Morales and Raj, who mentioned treatments as varied as acupuncture, chiropractic manipulation and massage therapy, injections, intravenous medication and endoscopy.
Jennifer’s hiccups started on Jan. 23. A recent bout with strep throat could be contributing to the girl’s spasms, Raj said.
Numerous newspapers throughout the country published the story, and Jennifer also appeared on ABC television’s Good Morning America and on Fox News’ Tampa Bay station, WTVT-TV Ch. 13.
Jennifer has seen a couple of doctors while in New York.
Robidoux said it’s enlightening to see that so many people care about her daughter’s plight.
But “I don’t see any improvement so far hiccup-wise,” she said.
[Last modified February 16, 2007, 22:46:50]
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Comments on this article
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by Meagan
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02/25/08 08:35 PM
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and i hope they leave soon, and mine do to, causeeee im sick of ppl mimicking my after i hickup ha
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by Meagan
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02/25/08 08:33 PM
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well ive had the hickups for just over a month now, and i was just looking up why i keep having them, and i hickup at least 10 times an hour. its so werid,and now that its been quite a long time theyve started to not hurt anymore.and i cant even expl
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by Ronald
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03/17/07 01:55 AM
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I would really like to here from this young lady after she tried what fixed me I had complete shoulder repair and had the hiccups non stop for almost a week when a nurse told me about my fix I mailed in if you find something better i would like to no
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by Ronald
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03/17/07 01:50 AM
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Take a large tea glass full of water,get 1 or 2 papper towels, sit in chair, bend over your knees,lift your chin up as high as you can and drink the water through the papper towels. try not to breathe and you will belch and it should work I did forme
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by Melinda
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02/28/07 09:54 AM
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My daughter has been hiccuping since September. I have tried to get in touch with you through reporter without success. Would love a chance to compare notes. My daughter's range from little chirps to very loud, long screeches - even in her sleep.
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by Connie
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02/24/07 05:56 PM
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I would recommend deep breathing exercises (probably available on CD)but more effective with a trained practitoner and it can be done over the phone. Do it yourself, inhale count 4, exh 4. I tablespoon of Braggs apple cider vinegar might also help.
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by Beverly
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02/19/07 08:44 PM
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Friends Father had hiccups for 3 days,she had me look up the cure in my Natural cure book.It said Oranges,so she gave him fresh Orange juice,and it stopped the hiccups.
he drank more than one glass before it worked.any citrus juice works.
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by marion brown
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02/19/07 08:03 PM
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i had the same problem i was back and forth to the emerg room but doctors dont know what the problem is. after i tried eveything from lemons, holding my breath,water,peanut butter i realize the cure is simple. "ITS A MIND THING"
ONLY YOU CAN DO IT.
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by Barb
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02/19/07 05:52 PM
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Have a glass of water ready, then bend over and drink the water, have the glass so the top of your mouth is on the edge of the glass and drink slowly, this way--wish I could explain it better to Jennifer--as I have had the hiccups for many hours.
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by Maryah
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02/19/07 03:12 PM
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This may be worth checking out, it is really supose to work, Good Luck www.Hic-Cups.com
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by Mayer, MD
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02/17/07 03:02 PM
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I am a physician in Chicago. I have had success treating severe hiccups using a drug called Baclofen. Baclofen acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to produce its muscle relaxant effects. Have your doctor check into it for you.
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by nina
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02/17/07 02:18 PM
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The real cure for the hiccups is to take a slice of lemon put sugar and bitters(found in any bar) and chew on it. if works everytime. try it the only thing you have to loose is the hiccups.
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by Eddie
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02/17/07 02:43 AM
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For Jennifer Mee (hiccup girl)
1. squeeze whole lemon into a cup and drink it striaght.
2.poor your self a glass of water then put a kitchen towel or wash cloth over glass and drink the water threw which ever you use.... good luck!!!
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by Marie
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02/17/07 01:07 AM
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My daughter coughed for six months. The only thing that worked was warm chicken broth through a straw slipped very slowly. I used College Inn, or Campbells. Good Luck!!
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by Annie
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02/17/07 12:16 AM
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I'm a critical care R.N. My grandfather suffered 3 wks with hicups. We placed him on Methyphenidate / Ritalin , It worked with -in 24 hours for him and a patient on the unit post surgery please tell your Physician look into it for you.
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