Hiccups!

So I have a couple of silly questions.. one at a time though... I used to get the hiccups every once in a while but when I did get them I them bad. They were loud and they hurt and they lasted FOREVER and if I got them once during the day I would get them again and again throughout the day. Ever since my surgery (dec 06) I now get them most of the time when I eat and they are still loud and they still hurt but now they dont last very long but they are so fast I can not even talk between them... any opinions as to why or how to keep them away??? Thanks Tara