Post thyroid lobectomy hiccups

[Meghan100]

I had a left thyroid lobectomy back in 9/2008 for a follicular adenoma.  Since then I have had weird episodes of hiccups lasting maybe 1, 2, 3 hiccups at a time and progressing so that they are occuring more frequently now and sometimes I bring up some vomitus or get a burning feeling in my epigastric area right after the hiccups.  When I brought this up to my primary care doc, he told me to try some TUMS and ask my surgeon what he thinks. I brought it up to my surgeon, who happens to be a friend of mine, but he told me that I'm the first patient he's ever had report these symptoms post-op.  I really want to believe that it is unrelated to my surgery and that I might just be developing some acid reflux, but I never had this before my surgery and it began immediately afterward.  Is this related to my surgery, is it just an irritated nerve or something or should I just follow up with my primary care doc and talk to him about a GI follow up since the TUMS aren't cutting it?

Thanks!

[sfnett3088]

I am 2 months out of full thyroidectomy due to tumor and thyroid papillary cancer.  Have loss of gag reflex and gastro pain at base of esophagus following surgery.  Went to ENT due to concerns over voice and gastro pain/ swallowing.  I have a paralyzed vocal cord.  I am told that it may come back but is paralyzed due to recurrent larangeal nerve damage, bruising or worse.  This week I am getting hiccups that have been going for about 8 hours now..   very frustrating.  Never had anything like this before.  My hope is that my nerve are awaking and this is a good sign...but.. right now... very frustrating..  

[gimel]

Have you started on replacement thyroid med yet?  If so, what med and dosage, and when started?

[gimel]

Please post your thyroid related test results and reference ranges since the thyroidectomy.  Also, please post symptoms you have, if any, other than the hiccups.  

[ig1ggle]

I don't have the test results right off. The symptoms... it is always as I am eating, no particular food triggers it, and I will get the hiccups. I can feel the difference between these hiccups and normal hiccups. With these at times they stop in a few seconds, if they do not stop in a few seconds I will end up throwing up. At that time I am not able to swallow anything! When I try it is like it gets stuck in my throat and I start gagging. It is extremely painful and has lasted just over 27 hours before. During this time I am not able to swallow even my own saliva. Since my original post I have had 2 EDG's, they have taken 3 biopsies each time, 1 in my stomach, the other 2 from my esophagus. The first time it was determined there was an infection in my stomach, I have acid reflux, and there is a "condition" I have in my esophagus. I was given medication to resolve all of this and have taken it as directed since. I just had the follow up EDG 2 days ago and should have the results from that within a week or so. He did say that it looks like all 3 issues are still present. When he asked why I was there and explained that I get the hiccups from the thyroid surgery he acted like I was crazy and insisted that I was not there because of the hiccups and said I was there because I was having trouble swallowing.

[898]

Hiccups (singultus) can be caused by many central and peripheral nervous system disorders, all from injury or irritation to the phrenic and vagus nerves [CAN be done during thyroid surgery]

[ig1ggle]

I had a complete thyroid removal in June 2010. Since then I have gotten the hiccups to the point I vomit. I am not able to swallow anything, including my own saliva. I have went to the doctor multiple times and even the emergency room twice. I have been told it is acid reflux and to take TUMS or prilosec OTC. Neither helped. The last time I went to the doctor, I was hiccuping and not able to swallow for over 17 hours. She could see that I was not able to swallow and sent me to the ER. Of course once I got there it stopped. They told me to go see my surgeon. I waited 4 months for the appointment with her and was told it is nothing she did and she has never heard of anything like that before. She has referred me to a Gastroenterologist. I see them in 2 weeks.