Hi orchidlady,Welcome to Healing Well! I'm sorry that it's taken so long for you to receive a response. I'm three and a half years post-op (full Nissen fundoplication), and while I was told I wouldn't be able to burp or vomit, I'm able to do both. I was actually having little burps while in the hospital during the first day post-op. The surgeon I spoke to said that it is very possible to be able to burp.
My guess is that surgeons don't want to promise anything. I also think that they mean BURP when they say you can't burp. You won't be able to force big burps, but after you're healed and the swelling has subsided, your stomach will "burp itself". I actually have big burps, but I don't control them like I did before surgery. I can feel them coming on, but can't make them come before they're ready. Gas-X also helps when gas builds up--if you're able to get burps out, it helps a lot to get things going.
The most important thing is to select a surgeon who had had a great deal of experience in doing the Nissen procedure. If your wrap is too tight it will keep you from burping, and that will create a bloating problem. Often people have bloating right after surgery, because swelling keeps the burps from happening. You won't want a surgeon who does a really tight wrap, as it is likely to create the problems you're worried about.
Vomiting is another issue. I was told that if I suspected food poisoning to head to the ER for a stomach pumping. Normal viruses, no problem. I've had two stomach bugs since my surgery and, while I didn't know if I'd be able to vomit, but I certainly was. Each time, the nausea hit me fast, and I vomited before I could take any anti-nausea drugs. Yes, it was harder to get the vomiting started, but once it did, I was able to empty my stomach.
That said, I used Compazine suppositories immediately, to stop the nausa and vomiting because it's not good for the wrap, and can be traumatizing if vomiting continues. That said, others here who've had vomiting episodes have done just fine without any lasting effects. Once wrapped you'll want to keep anti-nausea drugs with you at all times, just in case.
Like you, I was very hesitant to have this surgery. My problem was uncontrolled asthma, and in the end I didn't have a choice. Looking back, I only wish I'd had the surgery done years earlier. I was afraid because of all the scary posts I'd seen on the internet. I have some long-term health effects that could have been avoided if I'd had the surgery sooner.
Here's a link to my early recovery journal here on Healing Well. Hopefully it'll help you in your search for answers. It will provide you with a peek into one person's first weeks post-Nissen surgery.
https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=45&m=2183443
Good luck in making your decision!
Glad you've joined us.
Denise