I thought that I was consistent and systematic in organizing my acupuncture online lessons. I had forgotten that I am first a human being who also has shortcomings... 

How can a medical acupuncturist be so stupid? On that Saturday afternoon, sitting in my Chinese style office in front of a potential new student, I started having hiccups. There was no specific reason as I had not indulged in too much food or alcohol for the last 24 hours. So I apologized to the young future student and declared that it would not last for very long. After a while she left, and the next day she sent me her registration.But my hiccups were still there, as strong as ever. I tried every possible trick. No good. The more I talked the more it became frequent and nearly violent. I was at loss as to what to do.Suddenly I remember that the same thing had happened to me four years before, after three weeks of too much indulgence in food and drinks. I was in the French country side, it was Xmas, no pharmacy was open. I could barely sleep. Luckily enough if I eat a little the hiccups would subside…for a while.After two days I went back home. As I am a medical doctor I started thinking what could cause this condition, I called two colleagues and they agreed with my diagnosis. I was having an acute esophagitis, and needed light food and a kind of medicine called protons pump inhibitors. I went to the pharmacy, bought a box, took the first pill, and after a few hours the hiccups disappeared. Of course after that I was more careful with my eating and drinking habits. That was several years ago, and I had nearly forgotten about it.This time I was already at home, but it was the week-end and I had to find a night pharmacy. I had forgotten my papers but after having given all the details about my life the pharmacist agreed to give me the medicine.I rushed home and took one of the pills. After 3 hours, nothing. I took another one. Nothing. I was still contracting my diaphragm every ten seconds at least. A third pill had no better results.

 I called my internist, who suggested another medicine of the same family. After 24 hours, I was still not sleeping, not daring to speak, and apologizing to my patients and to everyone who found the situation very funny.Thr next day I called again my internist, ashamed of all the telephone consultations. Well, he said, let’s try this drug. Take 25 mg 3 times a day. Which I did, for a day and a half. One hour after I ha d taken the first pill the hiccups stopped, but I had ALL the side-effects of the medicine, and I can tell you there many. Mistakes in speaking, in writing, in thinking. Not seeing clearly. Not feeling steady on my legs, Itching and pins and needles in my lower legs, nauseas, headaches, loss of half of my voice, tingling in the left ulnar nerve, etc. So I took the pills for one day and a half and then stopped. The hiccups came back once, I took a little bite of THE medicine and they stopped.

What I didn’t tell you is that the first day I had taken the maximum dosage, which I should have arrived at after six weeks of steadily increasing the dosage. That is why I had all the side-effects! Who said the doctor was a good, smart, resilient and reliable patient? Anyhow I only took four of these mega-strong pills, after which my side-effects (some of which sent my daughter spinning with laughter and giggles - like trying to smoke my cigar when it was still lying in the ashtray) slowly disappeared. Now I am back to nearly normal, and in any case it is time for my annual checkup.Yes, there are some efficient drugs like amphetamines, in heavy dosages, and also a strong antidepressant, but I was convinced by my diagnosis of esophagitis and did not see the point of getting stoned with pep pills.But then, why didn’t I try Chinese acupuncture? I have had some pretty good results with hiccups, even in the old days when I had to sneak into hospitals and clinic wards with the complicity of the nurses to treat people with chronic hiccups, who could not for medical reasons take amphetamines or other strong drugs! I have treated many mild hiccups even just with (strong) massage on a few points and it worked! Well, as I told you, I am stupid. First, because I am a man, I don’t like asking my way, which means I don’t like to ask for other people’s help. Second I was focused on this inflammation of the esophagus.The problem is not yet solved. I still get hiccups although I am much more careful about my eating and drinking habits. So in three days I will undergo an endoscopy to see the state of my digestive tube. 

After the examination: mystery: the doctor only found the (already suspected) esophagitis. I will just have to be reasonable (for a while at least)...