Hiccups...

For the past 3 days I have had some serious hiccups. They haven't been constant, but sometimes they last for up to 3 or 4 hours at a time. I'm still not sure what triggers them because they start randomly. Sometimes it's after I eat, sometimes after a DC, but sometimes they just start. At work I walk around with my preceptor, Chef Kelly Cook (Cook is his last name, how coincidental) and we talk to a bunch of different people and whenever they hear me hiccup, they ALWAYS offer their advice about how to get them to go away. So funny. I've heard some pretty random things so I've decided to list them all here if you ever find your diaphragm spasming and need a little help, although I'm sure everyone around you will be anxious to give you their own quick-fix. Here's what I've heard so far, and who I heard it from:

1. Take 11 gulps of water (Rachel, a fellow intern)

2. Take a gas medicine because hiccups are from a gas bubble in your stomach (some lady that works in the hospital, but clearly has no medical knowledge or background)

3. Hold your breath for as long as you can (Chef Kelly)

4. Breathe into a brown paper bag (Chef Kelly....he even found me a paper bag and made me try)

5. Put a wet paper towel over a cup of water and take as many gulps as you can (Emily, and RD at Presby; and Keri...this works pretty well)

6. Drink milk. I don't like drinking milk, but eating ice cream DOES make them go away. Two thumbs up for that. (This toothless cook named Don)

7. Stand on your hands and get a big drink with a straw in it and drink from the straw while standing on your hands (the same girl from #2). Okay, I'm pretty good at standing on my hands, but this is really silly.

8. Flex your stomach  and hold your breath (Jesse)....I think he just wants me to have better abs :)

9. Be dared to hiccup again (Chef Kelly). Today, literally 5 minutes before I was off and after having them almost all day, he said that if I hiccuped again, I could have tomorrow off. I haven't hiccuped yet since.

10. And finally, the solution that seemed to be most consistently effective came from my girl, Debbie. She works in the kitchen. She said, "I tell you what you gone do. You gone go get yo-self a cup, and you gone drink upside down. I show you. My momma taught me and I aint never forget. It work ever time. Go. Get." What a fantastic woman. Drinking upside down worked. Yes, ice cream worked too, but it isn't nearly as accessible as a cup of water and a sink, and it might not be a great idea if you get hiccups often.

So in case you don't know how to drink upside down, I've create a how-to instructional video. Thank you, Debbie.