Surgery: Stopping the Hiccups

Atlanta Waitress Lucy McDonald was in De Kalb General Hospital visiting her sister two years ago when she got the hiccups. Except for two short periods, Lucy has hiccuped ever since. She tried home remedies—2,000 of them—from drinking gin to eating peanut butter. More than 100 doctors examined her. She was drugged and she was hypnotized. The hiccups continued—sometimes at a clip of 90 a minute.

Red-haired Lucy lost 40 Ibs. and three jobs. She became so well known that restaurateurs shook their heads: "You're the lady with the hiccups. Sorry, but...

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