Do I Have Rumination Disorder (Rumination Syndrome)?

Do you regurgitate food, usually within 15 to 30 minutes after a meal (recently eaten food inadvertently flows backwards from your stomach to your mouth)?

Do you regurgitate food effortlessly, without retching or gagging?

Do your symptoms occur with every meal?

Do you have a feeling of fullness in your stomach?

Do you have abdominal pain or pressure that is relieved by regurgitation?

Do you have a bad breath?

Do you have dental problems such as tooth decay?

Do you have chapped lips?

Do you have unintentional weight loss?

Do you have nausea, heartburn, diarrhea, or constipation?

Do you have headaches, dizziness, or sleeping difficulties?

Do you have at least a one-month history of repeated regurgitation and re-chewing, or expulsion of food?

Do you have symptoms that do not respond to standard treatment for gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)?

Do you feel embarrassed because of your symptoms or depressed?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have rumination disorder. Rumination disorder is a medical condition in which people unintentionally regurgitate food - bring swallowed food back into their mouth, chew it again and swallow, or spit it out. The exact cause of rumination disorders is unclear, but in some people the condition may be triggered by a viral infection, emotional stress or physical injury. In people with rumination syndrome, regurgitating food is not a result of a stomach illness. Sometimes regurgitation will start after eating a small amount of food, but usually people are able to eat the whole meal before the rumination begins.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have rumination disorder. Rumination disorder is a functional gastroduodenal disorder characterized by unintentional regurgitation of recently ingested food into the mouth. After the food is returned to the mouth, it is chewed again and swallowed, or spat out. Patients with rumination syndrome do not have any disease or physical abnormality, but still have real problems. This condition may be similar to bulimia nervosa, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, so diagnosis can be challenging. It is estimated that patients with this condition have consulted an average of five physicians before getting an accurate diagnosis.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have rumination disorder. Rumination disorder, also known as merycism is a chronic medical disorder characterized by regular regurgitation of food that lasts for a least one month. Shortly after a meal, recently eaten food returns from your stomach to your mouth, followed by re-chewing and re-swallowing, or spitting. Rumination syndrome is caused by involuntary contraction of your abdominal muscles. Currently, there is no definitive treatment for this condition, but behavioral therapy can be extremely helpful. Your doctor will tell you about diaphragmatic breathing techniques which can help you prevent abdominal contractions and regurgitation.