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- $Unique_ID{BRK00038}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Adult Rumination or Merycism}
- $Subject{cud chew ruminate Mental Emotional Conditions Condition adults adult
- Rumination Merycism rechew psychiatric psychological chewing cuds Ruminations
- digestive system mouth}
- $Volume{E-11, I-11}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- Adult Rumination or Merycism
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-
- QUESTION: Have you ever heard of a man chewing his cud? There is a man who
- lives in our community who, I am sure, does this quite often. Does he need
- help?
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-
- ANSWER: There is a rather rare condition called Merycism or adult rumination
- that might explain what you believe you are seeing. While involuntary
- regurgitation is normally seen in infant, it has been known to occur in
- adults. It usually occurs within a half hour of eating, and the patient will
- rechew the small amounts of food that have returned to the mouth before
- swallowing it again. It's often a very private action, not usually noticed by
- others, but during periods of stress the individual may be less careful to
- hide what is going on. It occurs in individuals with some emotional disorder,
- who suffer no nausea or pain during the episode. The explanations of why and
- how this occurs offer little help, but some psychiatrists believe it expresses
- and unconscious wish to attack or reject a threatening person or object. If
- this is the situation here, the individual might benefit from medical and
- psychiatric help.
-
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-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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-