56-Year-Old Man With Hiccups

A 56-year-old man presented to the emergency department for a 5-day history of persistent hiccups. He had never experienced this problem before. The hiccups had been causing him significant distress. He had not slept during this time, and he expressed significant frustration with the hiccups' interference with daily activities including eating, drinking, and speaking. He endorsed associated symptoms of mild chest pain and abdominal pain with 1/10 intensity which he attributed to muscle soreness from the hiccups, as well as belching more than usual since the hiccups began.