Did I advance too fast?

So I am one week and 2 days post op. Hungry... and my doctor said to advance my diet as I can tolerate. So what does that mean??? I ate soft food, no problems. No restriction. I advance to a regular diet and ate small bites, chewing thouroghly. When I swallow, no matter the size, about 3 seconds later I get a knot or something in my chest/esophagus. Painful and then it passes. Every bite, every time. Am I having a complication from being intubated and have some swelling. Is it from the surgery? the band? Am I having esophageal spasms? Should I  "listen" to my body and take it as it's too soon? I dont feel it's my band because it happends almost immediatly after I swallow. Please help. I'm going to call the MD in the am  but I thought I'd post and get your thoughts.

You're still healing and I am sure you still have swelling. My doctor has me on full liquids for the first two weeks then pureed/soft foods for the last two weeks. I don't understand why a Dr. would tell you to progress on your own. Does your Dr. have a nutritionist in his/her office?

I would go back to eating 'soft' foods -- for me, that meant

B -- greek yogurt
S -- applesauce or a mashed banana
L -- well-forked tuna or egg salad -- with low-fat wheat thins (I broke each wheat thin into 1/4's and I ate a tiny bite of egg or tuna salad with each 1/4 cracker
S -- pudding or a protein shake
D -- Baked Ricotta or well-forked taco meat

I ate about 1/4 to 1/2 cup and stopped ---- then, usually a few minutes later I recognized that I was not hungry anymore. 

Wait 1 hour --- then drink lots of water in between meals/snacks.

This snsation you are having could definitely be your band --- that pouch in the very top of your stomach starts out to be smaller than an egg -- with a small opening.
Even if you think you are chewing well -- and taking small bites, it could be too much.
Your bites should be the size of a 'pea' or 'pencil eraser' --- and you should 'chew til its goo'.

There should never be pain with eating with a band.  Anytime there is, it's a good idea to back down to softer foods.  Kath gave good examples and explanations, I can't add anything to what she said.

First off, it's really concerning that your doctor didn't give you a specific diet progression to follow.  I was on liquids for 3 weeks post op, mushies for 2 and then a  gradual progression to solids foods.  You are likely feeling the food when it hits the opening from your esophagus and transitions to your pouch.  There is still a lot of swelling at 2 weeks post op and it will take months for you to fully heal.  If I were you, I would go on mushy foods, (only things you can cut with the edge of a fork), for at least 2 weeks.  If you've irritated your stoma already it will take some time to heal.  It's unlikely that you've done any permanent or serious damage at this point, but if the pain continues see your surgeon.

Take care!

Lisa O.