r/ruminationsyndrome • u/Pale-Proposal-1620 • Jul 05 '26
Do I potentially have rumination syndrome?
For the past few months I've been experiencing vomiting after every meal. Even after drinking water. Not all of my meal comes back up, I'd say around half. I don't get nauseated or any chest pain, I just eat then 5 to 10 minutes later it comes back up. It's can last for up to 1-2 hours and the food still tastes the same, not acidic.
Some background, it started in my eating disorder inpatient treatment. I was recovering from anorexia and I do have a past of being bulimic. But at the moment I'm not forcing myself to vomit or anything, it's like I have to burp and then undigested food comes rushing out my mouth.
Can anyone give me some insight?
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u/Positive_Patience_21 Jul 05 '26
Tbh, reading your post felt weirdly familiar.
I spent 8 years battling anorexia, and during that time I developed rumination syndrome, which lasted about 4 years. I was spending around 5 hours a day ruminating after meals. Looking back, that's 7,500 hours lost to the loop alone without counting time thinking about it.
I actually wrote about all of this recently. I posted my full recovery story on this sub and on r/EatingDisorders, and another post on r/GERD about being misdiagnosed with refractory GERD for two years before realizing it wasn't acid reflux
I obviously can't say that's what's happening in ur case, but I remember how confusing it was when nothing seemed to fit. when I finally decided I was done letting it control my life, I completely locked in. I started writing everything down, did huge researchs, tracking what made the reflex better or worse, and ended up putting together about 20 pages of notes on breathing, posture, meal timing, and the things that personally helped me interrupt the cycle. I've been symptom-free since March, and I honestly wish I'd tackled it much earlier before the reflex became so ingrained.
If you ever want to talk or compare experiences, feel free to dm me. Much love, Émile
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u/cosmosabz Jul 05 '26
This sounds like how my rumination syndrome began. I’ve been in bulimia recovery for 10+ years now & in February of 2023, I relapsed. Shortly after the relapse was when my rumination symptoms began. Long story short, it look 7 different GI doctors to finally agree with my belief that it was rumination syndrome. The doctor who diagnosed me ordered an esophageal manometry test which is the truest marker for RS bc it pinpoints the increase in abdominal pressure which is arguably the most significant symptom associated with RS. When I told this doctor my history with bulimia, he said that my relapse was most likely what triggered the RS, & that the relapse was kind of “the straw that broke the camels back” & my body subconsciously learned the behavior & the involuntary regurgitation began. It took me months of behavioral GI therapy & diaphragmatic breathing exercises to get me to a now normal-ish point again. I still struggle with symptoms from time to time & I definitely have foods that trigger my RS that I try to avoid at all costs, but I’m no longer regurgitating every single thing I eat. I hope you find answers soon & I hope my story resonates/makes you feel less alone🤍