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Suggest Treatment For Hiccups And Flatulance

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Posted on Fri, 9 Jan 2015
Question: For the past month I have been suffering from wind coming up when eating, I have had hiccups and at times the wind seems to go into my intestines causing discomfort particularly at night causing me to toss and turn and leaving discomfort in my left side. I don't have pain as such its just a nuisance and I don't look forward to eating.
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Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (13 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Hiccups and gas coming from the stomach need some diagnostic.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Hiccup is an reflex action caused by vagal nerve stimulation. As vagal nerve travels from the brain through neck, chest and abdominal cavity, any pathology in this area can be the reason of hiccups. Sometimes the reason can be benign issue like diabetes, ions deficiency (low level of sodium, calcium or potassium), hiatal hernia (can give hiccups and gas), gallstones.
However sometimes hiccups can be due to malignant issue like lung cancer (possible if you smoke), stomach cancer, esophageal cancer and any other cancer which due to its growth can compress vagal nerve.

Gas which you do have along with hiccups can be caused by hiatal hernia or acid reflux disease. This seems the most probable reason. But as there is much more possibilities, I suggest you to have some diagnostics.
Blood work, abdominal ultrasound (or CT if possible), chest x-ray if you smoke (CT would be better) and gastroscopy.

In a meanwhile you should avoid factors increasing gas in the stomach: loose dentures, stress, eating fast, chewing gum, drinking carbonated drinks.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Grzegorz Stanko

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 5795 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Hiccups And Flatulance

Brief Answer: Hiccups and gas coming from the stomach need some diagnostic. Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for the query. Hiccup is an reflex action caused by vagal nerve stimulation. As vagal nerve travels from the brain through neck, chest and abdominal cavity, any pathology in this area can be the reason of hiccups. Sometimes the reason can be benign issue like diabetes, ions deficiency (low level of sodium, calcium or potassium), hiatal hernia (can give hiccups and gas), gallstones. However sometimes hiccups can be due to malignant issue like lung cancer (possible if you smoke), stomach cancer, esophageal cancer and any other cancer which due to its growth can compress vagal nerve. Gas which you do have along with hiccups can be caused by hiatal hernia or acid reflux disease. This seems the most probable reason. But as there is much more possibilities, I suggest you to have some diagnostics. Blood work, abdominal ultrasound (or CT if possible), chest x-ray if you smoke (CT would be better) and gastroscopy. In a meanwhile you should avoid factors increasing gas in the stomach: loose dentures, stress, eating fast, chewing gum, drinking carbonated drinks. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.