Michael Henry Struggles With Rare Condition
A man who has suffered from chronic hiccups for two decades awaits surgery for a rare esophageal condition.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Allergies
Michael Henry has been living with chronic hiccups since 2006, a condition linked to his diagnosis of Type III Achalasia. This extremely rare medical issue, which affects less than one in a million people, causes severe sleep disruption and vomiting.
Why it matters
The case highlights the extreme impact of Type III Achalasia, an esophageal disorder that significantly compromises quality of life by preventing normal eating and drinking. Henry is now scheduled for surgery to release constricted muscle fibres in hopes of finally ending his long-term distress.
Type III Achalasia is a rare condition occurring in less than 1 in 1,000,000 people. Current hiccup episodes now last between 4 to 5 hours, significantly worse than the 30 to 40-minute bouts experienced when the condition first emerged 20 years ago.
The players
Michael Henry
He is a patient who has dealt with chronic, debilitating hiccups for two decades.
This Morning
This is a prominent British daytime television program that featured the details of Henry's medical struggle.
The details
The condition causes Henry to vomit when attempting to consume food or liquid, and current episodes are followed by only one to one-and-a-half hours of relief. After a successful period of medical treatment that provided two years of relief between 2011 and 2013, his symptoms returned with increased severity.
Timeline
Hiccups began for Michael Henry in 2006.
Condition became more regular and longer in 2008.
Henry first sought medical help in 2011.
Condition returned in 2013.
Henry appeared on This Morning on October 29, 2026.
The Big Picture
This case reflects a pattern of complex treatment challenges often documented within the Mayo Clinic diagnostic criteria for esophageal motility disorders. It illustrates the medical difficulty of managing Type III Achalasia when standard therapies fail to provide permanent relief.
The case emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis for rare esophageal disorders that cause persistent vomiting and sleep deprivation. Patients experiencing chronic, unexplained hiccups should consult specialists to rule out rare motility disorders before symptoms escalate into severe physical debilitation.
The takeaway
Chronic hiccups that persist over many years can sometimes indicate an underlying esophageal disorder rather than a temporary irritation. Seeking specialist evaluation is crucial for patients whose quality of life is compromised by repetitive, long-duration symptoms.
Further reading
For more information on rare conditions, visit the Allergies section.
