GERD/Tequila/Hiccups, Any scientific knowledge of the connection?

Ask the doc about a hiatial hernia. It can cause what you are describing.

I sounds like what you have is a hangover. Next time, try drinking less. If you know how much you drank last time, halve that amount and see if that helps. If not, halve the amount again. Straight alcohol is very hard on the stomach, and having hiccups and stomach issues the next day is really common. So common, in fact, that I suspect people are going to have a hard time taking your question seriously. Drinking a lot of water helps because drinking too much causes you to become dehydrated. Take it easy with the patron (yea, it's good stuff, which is why it's easy to drink way too much of it) and make sure you have a good solid meal in you before you start.

5_13, It is clearly not a hangover. It should be evident that i know what they are by now. ;-)

I have this, too. Some booze is less irritating such as creamy drinks. Actually scotch and water is not too bad. My older brother once warned me that if it burns going down - well, that's bad. Tips: Sit up straight, feet on the floor, sleep on your left side with a wedge pillow, don't lie down for several hours after eating/drinking and munch on ginger chews/crystals. The latter is very good for indigestion, reflux caused by anything, bloating, etc.

My best friend with GERD does not drink in the evening or she'll have problems during the night. It's my understanding that this is pretty common. My friend is a pretty light drinker and unless we do early happy hour, she doesn't partake.

You might try a different liquor. My husband and I are both less refluxy after drinking if we drink vodka-tonics, as opposed to, say, tequila and shots, which are completely off the table for us. But as rmhsinc points out, there's a pretty basic connection between alcohol and reflux due to its muscle-relaxing properties.

Thank you all for the replies. PS: Remember, I largely have none of the general reflux symptoms and gastric discomfort to contend with. I just have those darned hiccups. I wonder what is triggering those and how to reduce/control them.

I will, Thanks Mr. Yuck.

Alcohol is dehydrating. I used to get acid reflux when I was very dehydrated. Cold water constricts the vessels in the lungs (it is a common treatment for lung bleeds in the cf community -- get the lungs cold enough, it sometimes stops a small bleed). High acidity in the gut is known to promote lung inflammation. Perhaps not exactly the same thing, but it sounds to me like you have possibly (chemically) irritated the lungs in a way which is helped by constricting the vessels. Not scientific. Just what I know from having a lung condition and talking to others with the same. Best of luck.