NBC News

By CHRIS CHMURA
cchmura@tbo.com

A national audience is responding to a 15-year-old St. Petersburg girl’s appeal for help in curing her three-week-long bout with hiccups.

Jennifer Mee was a guest on NBC’s “Today” show.

“I can’t do what a normal teenager would do,” she told interviewer Meredith Viera. “I can’t go out in public without someone staring or saying something.”

> Suggest A Remedy
> About Hiccups (From WebMD)

Mee hiccupped at least 152 times during the interview, which lasted only three minutes.

Her hiccups haven’t stopped since they began January 23, during first period science class. Since then, Mee says she has seen several specialists who simply cannot explain the hiccups.

“If you rub your earlobe, it stops the hiccups almost instantly,” suggested TBO User Mama41.

Another user, JanetK, suggests a large teaspoonful of peanut butter. “Just don’t use Peter Pan,” she advised, referring to the recent peanut butter recall.

A doctor who also appeared on the “Today” show segment said the cause and cure of hiccups are largely a medical mystery that remains unexplained.

The short blasts of sound stopped only when Mee spoke during the interview. She said it was originally somewhat funny, but not anymore. “I want to cry it hurts so bad now,” she said.

Medicine has helped, but has not cured Mee’s endless hiccups. And although she’s tried various home remedies, there’s been no relief.

Jennifer’s mom, Rachel Robidoux, also appeared on the morning news program to ask for help. 

“That’s why we’re here, we’re hoping someone can come up with a solution,” Robidoux explained to NBC’s Matt Lauer.

Can you help?

“Straight lime juice works for me every time,” wrote Terry in TBO’s forums.

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