Hiccups man has brain operation

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/lincolnshire/8451190.stm

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A man who had hiccups for three years is recovering from life-saving surgery to remove a brain tumour.

Christopher Sands underwent an operation that removed 60% of a tumour, which doctors believe was the cause of the constant hiccupping.

The condition was discovered when he was given an MRI scan for a Japanese television show.

Mr Sands, 25, from Timberland near Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, is now recovering and hopes he has been cured.

He first started hiccupping in December 2006. The hiccups lasted two weeks but then returned four months later.

The problem had caused Mr Sands difficulty sleeping and eating.

At first, doctors thought his problem stemmed from an acid reflux condition caused by a damaged valve in his stomach.

Even when it was at its worst point, it was definitely funny that I had hiccups for that long Christopher Sands

But after he was flown to Tokyo by producers of a Japanese TV show in August, Mr Sands was told he had a growth in his brain stem.

His mum, Chris, said: "Although he's not got his sleep pattern properly back and he's still got things going on in his body - the doctors did explain to him he would have some weird feelings and things wouldn't come right back to normal - you can see it gradually getting there.

"He's not rushing to the toilet to be sick every time he eats something."

Mr Sands said throughout he had remained optimistic.

He said: "I always think, even when it was at its worst point, it was definitely funny that I had hiccups for that long.

"And even when I found out I had a tumour and was in hospital, I could still giggle to myself.

"That comedy take on it kept me happy."