def merge_like_ops(self):
        """
        >>> Cigar("1S20M").merge_like_ops()
        Cigar('1S20M')
        >>> Cigar("1S1S20M").merge_like_ops()
        Cigar('2S20M')
        >>> Cigar("1S1S1S20M").merge_like_ops()
        Cigar('3S20M')
        >>> Cigar("1S1S1S20M1S1S").merge_like_ops()
        Cigar('3S20M2S')
        """

        cigs = []
        for op, grps in groupby(self.items(), itemgetter(1)):
            cigs.append((sum(g[0] for g in grps), op))

        return Cigar(self.string_from_elements(cigs))