MyHiccupSpace

A musician from Lincolnshire is blaming hiccups for ruining his chance at a career in music. Chris Sands, 23, has been struggling with the problem since February - almost five months of constant hiccups.

He said the hiccups had not only ruined his chances with the band Ebullient, but had also stopped him from taking another job. The guitarist has launched a blog on the MySpace website where he hopes people will help him find a cure.

I had tears streaming out of my eyes and I was trying to down glasses of water
Chris Sands "It has made me sick, I do not know when I will next be able to sleep," he said.

"Every aspect of my life is tainted by it and it sometimes hurts. Last night I had a really bad attack and I couldn't breathe for a while - it is really scary. Sometimes they are once every second - very constant and the diaphragm goes into a spasm and I can't breathe. I had tears streaming out of my eyes and I was trying to down glasses of water. I have seen all the doctors many times but sleeping tablets don't really help because it doesn't stop the hiccuping."

Mr Sands said he cannot really afford any therapy as he is not working at present.
He said he sometimes gets a break for an hour or so but it never quite feels like it has really gone. Mr Sands thinks the problem stems from an acid reflux condition caused by a damaged valve in his stomach.

In an effort to find a cure he has tried standing on his head, spinning on the floor, drinking vinegar and pressing a knife against his temple while drinking - but nothing has worked. He said doctors told him that replacing the damaged value involves opening the chest cavity and the success rate is not very high.

American Charles Osborne, of Anthon, Iowa, holds the record for the longest ever bout of hiccups, which lasted for 68 years from 1922 until 1990.