Southpinellas: Hiccups heard round the world

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.

"The response was immediate," said Megan Kopf, a Today spokeswoman. "We have received thousands of e-mails and hundreds of calls to our switchboard with suggestions.

"It's just amazing how fascinated the viewers are and how fascinated the people on the show are."

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.

Rachel Robidoux and Jennifer probably will spend the weekend in New York, said Kopf, the Today spokeswoman, and they could appear on the morning show again.

It is Jennifer's first trip to New York City and her first plane ride. She's 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.

716 Number of readers who have called Times reporter Mary Jane Park with suggestions for how to cure Jennifer's hiccups.

822 Number of readers who have e-mailed the reporter about Jennifer's hiccups. Some offered similar stories. Most offered their home remedies.

88 Number of letters about hiccups sent to the letters to the editor section of the St. Petersburg Times.

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Comments on this article

by Kathy	08/30/07 03:03 PM
Jen seems like a sweet young lady. I hope she gets to continue to see and hear from her father and grandparents.

by lee	08/13/07 10:24 PM
run like hell, ive had them for 2 days in a row and tried everything and the only thing that has worked is a full sprint until i cant breath anymore and they go away.

by yuppo	06/22/07 02:36 PM
Close your eyes,hold your nose with other's hand,hold your mouth and cover your ears with your fingers as long as you can!

by sandy	04/28/07 05:25 AM
WhenI was young, my mom used to hold up a $20 bill and said if I hiccuped again, it's mine. Sure as hell, they stopped! Yours is a more extreme case, you might need more money. ;)

by DAVE P	03/16/07 09:58 PM
Hi Jennifer, If you haven't already, please try NICOTINE GUM. I can give you many reasons why , but there would be more debunkers than reasons. I have a teenage daughter and if she was afflicted with what you have I'd give it a try.

by Sarvadaman	03/16/07 02:51 PM
Homeopathic cure only HUGHES & DAKE Cyclopaedia Drug Pathogenesy Colchicum autumnale epistaxis in evening; hiccup for hours; GENTRY WD Concordance Repertory of the Materia Medica Volume 2, Page 599 Hiccough Constant Colchicum autumnale

by debbie	03/10/07 07:32 AM
I get hiccups constantly maybe 5/6 times daily with breaks of 1hour.My problem being is that i am only 4'9 or 4'10.So when i hiccup i am more noticable with them as i literally jump out of my chair.I have even been known to scare people as well.

by bill	02/28/07 10:31 AM
fill glass 1/2 way with water. bend at waist to 90 degree. then try to drink water from the far side of the glass!! thank you i accept checks or cash. 90 day gaurrentee.

by mino	02/28/07 05:43 AM
drink water endless. zettai naoru yo!

by Jayne	02/26/07 09:59 AM
When I was 13, I had the hiccups for 10 days. I was hospitalized for the last three days. My family doctor - a very large, imposing man - came in and yelled at me, told me that I was faking the whole thing. He literally scared them out of me.

by Mark	02/26/07 04:15 AM
A physical therapist may treat this with a TENS device.

by Shane	02/25/07 02:38 AM
I had with a similar problem several years ago after a bout of food poisoning. I had the hiccups for 46 hours and could not sleep because of them. The only thing that will work is a couple of tablespoons of mustard. I have never had them since.

by Shamaree	02/25/07 12:38 AM
Jennifer should take a deep breath (hold it) AND swallow slowly (at least 5 times). Do all of this at the same time and she should be okay. After doing this, most people don't even realize that don't have the hiccups anymore.

by Pamela	02/24/07 08:27 PM
I wasn't sure if I had printed that last idea correctly. Has Jennifer tried liquid magnesium? Liquid's more powerful and absorbs better than pill form. It can stop labor and asthma, so maybe it can stop hiccups.

by Pamela	02/24/07 08:27 PM
I wasn't sure if I had printed that last idea correctly. Has Jennifer tried liquid magnesium? Liquid's more powerful and absorbs better than pill form. It can stop labor and asthma, so maybe it can stop hiccups.

by Pamela	02/24/07 08:27 PM
I wasn't sure if I had printed that last idea correctly. Has Jennifer tried liquid magnesium? Liquid's more powerful and absorbs better than pill form. It can stop labor and asthma, so maybe it can stop hiccups.

by Pamela	02/24/07 08:24 PM
Has she tried liquid magnesium? It can stop labor and asthma attacks, so maybe it can help stop hiccups.

by GodWoods	02/24/07 05:50 AM
It is the method. Please continue cooling eyes in ice. And please take a deep breath deeply slowly. And please massage the upper part of eyes well. Good luck!

by GodWoods	02/24/07 05:48 AM
I hiccup well, but stop by this method! A hiccup is convulsions of a diaphragm. There is the end nervous system of a diaphragm on the upper part of eyes. To be continued.

by Alfredo	02/23/07 07:19 PM
Girl, get ready to be cured. While standing up, get a big gulp of water in your mouth, hold it in, now stare at the ceiling by leaning your head back. Now, SWALLOW HARD, it should hurt as if you swallowed a tennis ball. Repeat a 2nd time if needed.

by Linda	02/23/07 04:41 PM
THIS WORKS. Just sit completely motionless, breathing as slowly and evenly as possible. Don't talk, swallow or move your mouth or esophagus. After the hiccups stop, stay still for another minute or two and resume normal breathing SLOWLY. PLEASE TRY

by John	02/23/07 02:49 PM
I have found meditating on the breath helps hiccups. Focus your mind on the breath, and eventually your breathing will relax. It takes some practice, but works.

by Jamie	02/23/07 02:09 PM
Alright, now this has worked for everyone i have had to do it. Its slightly complicated, lean your head forward, and put the opposite brim of a glass of water to your mouth, and then bend over some to drink it. You'll get it.

by Guy	02/23/07 01:54 PM
Here is the NIH link for the paper I just mentioned regarding "Termination of intractable hiccups with digital rectal massage." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3395000&dopt=Citation

by Guy	02/23/07 01:51 PM
This is the real thing. A paper was written by a doctor in Haifa, Israel regarding "Termination of intractable hiccups with digital rectal massage." See the link at http://jwz.livejournal.com/701872.html

by jack	02/23/07 01:35 PM
you need oxygen, your system is producing carbon dioxide, which is the trigger for hiccups, very common at my altitude here in the Rocky Mtns.

by Sue	02/23/07 11:43 AM
Try Pepto-bismol. Even gave it to a physician, who was doubtful, who had the hiccups. Always stops mine and worked for the physician, too.

by Anita	02/23/07 06:06 AM
Try mentally to move something from one place to another..imagine moving a fork or spoon that's in front of you over across the room and laying it down somewhere else. this works for me...concentrating seems to break the hiccup cycle.

by Mark	02/23/07 03:36 AM
here is a web site that discussed gabapentin and other hiccup remedies. www.medscape.com/medline/abstract/10777198

by brian	02/23/07 02:04 AM
All other remediies are old tales. mine is scientific. Concontrate, hold breath, tilt back 45 degrees, hold for 8-9 seconds, then very slowly raise to upright position.While maintaining straight neck, and holding breath. Traps the air bubble, etc.

by brian	02/23/07 02:00 AM
please forward a true e-mail, so that I can help. Please. Thank you.

by Brian	02/23/07 01:59 AM
I have cured hiccups too many times to count. A friend had hiccups for three weeks in Saskatchewan. Every Doctor imaginable, couldn't help. I did it in no time at all. IT WORKS!!!! contact me!!IT is true and reliable... no gimicks.

by Susan	02/22/07 11:31 PM
Have someone stomp on your toes. Your attention will now be on your feet and you'll forget you have hiccups.

by guy tomme	02/22/07 06:55 PM
I am almost 80 years old. I have stopped hiccups all my life. Get in touch with me and the hiccup is gone. No problem.

by len	02/22/07 05:20 PM
try Baclofen(lioresal)It's a muscle relaxer. Worked on my after one month of hiccupping.