hiccups

[amyBSN]

I work on an orthopedic floor and I have noticed that some of my patients get an annoying case of the hiccups after surgery (this can be very painful for our back surgeries). Does anyone have any remedies that would be helpful. I am open to anything and so are my patients. Thanks

[Brownms46]

Same remedy with a slight variation. Hold water in your mouth..close ears...slowly swallow water keeping ears closed for about 10 secs afterwards. Hiccups gone...works for me and my daughter every time.

[SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN]

...but I wouldn't recommend having post-op patients doing this ...using the gag method.

The Phrenic nerve directly affect the involuntary diaphragm movement which causes the hiccups. The theory is to off-set the involuntary hiccups by gagging, thereby creating a counter involuntary movement of the diaphragm.

Works for me & my daughter...just don't do it on a full stomach...Heeeeeee - LOL!!!:chuckle - Moe

[Fgr8Out]

I guess I'll add my own remedy to the thread.

Sugar... about a teaspoon (packet, whatever), on the back of the tongue. Let the sugar dissolve, while keeping the tongue up against the roof of the mouth. I know, it sounds a bit disgusting but, for some reason it stops my hiccups (and others who have tried it). I suppose it works by the same mechanisms as everyone elses suggestions.

I've seen Thorazine ordered, but rarely have I seen it be effective. I suppose hiccups are something that require individualized treatments... what works for one may not work for someone else.

"Just a spoonful of sugar......" :)

[CEN35]

yeah yeah yeah....isn't that part of post op teaching? lmao!!! :chuckle

me :)

[NurseDennie, BSN, RN]

I've tried the sugar method. It didn't work for me. I've hard a LOT of people that it is effective for.

My step-step mother-in-law-in-law said try a teaspoon of vinegar, and that worked for me! Of course, it almost made me vomit - maybe it was the gag deal that SKM uses. ICK

I get BAD hiccoughs. Nasty. My mother used to make me leave the house if I had hiccoughs!!

Love

Dennie

[TracyB,RN, RN]

Agnus, that bend over water trick is also the ONLY thing that ever rids me of hiccups. My aunt taught it to me when I was a kid. She learned it from an Army nurse in Okinawa.

[micro, RN]

i still swear by the bendin over almost totally upside down........and drinkin water from the opposite side of the glass........haven't had hiccups since...........way back before the dinosaurs..............hehehehhehe

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Check out all the"answers" from google search--first link is scientific answer--others easier understand, LOL!

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=what+are+hiccups%3F&spell=1

[SKM-NURSIEPOOH, BSN, RN]

originally posted by nrskarenrn

check out all the"answers" from google search--first link is scientific answer--others easier understand, lol!

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=what+are+hiccups%3f&spell=1

...there's 112,000 hits....lol:roll