in no particular order, here they are:

1) i see some people are already on pureed foods/mushies at five days out but my doc has me on liquids for first two weeks -- does this mean a little "cheating" won't kill me? (i mean i literally thought if i had something with texture i might start to choke -- i had a couple of mini bites today of something and had no such problems...)

2) i'm craving a glass of red wine. so would that kill me? (hey, my diet allows for four ounces of juice!)

3) is it normal to have a certain amount of queasiness/sour stomach feeling at this point? i've got gas, too (which i hear is fairly common), but the gas is just weird -- it's as if the air is all coming from my shoulder blades to throat (if that makes any sense). i can deal with it for now, but i'm wondering if this is something i'll be experiencing for a looooong time...

4) reflux is just terrible -- i'm really getting a burning in the throat. (i have gerd, but this is about as bad as it gets). again, normal?

i realize my first two questions conflict with my second two -- as in if i'm having some stomach issues, why would i want to veer off my diet? so please don't scold me... just looking for some honest answers.

on the flip side, not really hungry at all -- and i've dropped 8 lbs. in five days!

Hello - for #1 Do what your doctor says! I know this is really hard because I'm in the same boat as you. I had my surgery on 3/23 I have to be on the clear liquid Diet for two weeks and It is by far the hardest part I have gone thru. My head hunger is out of control. TV food commercials are the worst right now. However I have been told it gets better each day.

My Doc warned me that I need to heal and not stretch out my smaller stomach or the band can slip.

That scared me straight!!

So I will wait until I get my doc's ok to move on to the next diet. But Ohhhhhh I cant wait!!!

i love that phrase "head hunger"!

that's exactly the way i feel... and it's the scariest part of having had the surgery. i'm worried i will continue to feel that "head hunger" even as i make it to the "regular" diet -- because it still limits so much of what you can eat (and how much, too).

but i've heard from folks that your feelings for food really do change eventually... and i take the fact that something like only 3 percent of lap-bandees have the surgery reversed to be a sign that people are happy with it.

I, too, love the "head hunger" Because that is really what it is. I miss chewing and tasting. But out of fear I am only doing the clear liquids. I can't even do my protein shakes until next week. I've had my band for 4 days now and I'm still trying to figure out how much I can put in the pouch without feeling sick. I really like to mix tomato juice and chicken bouillon and then heat it up. That makes me feel full. And if you like tomato juice it tastes really good. I notice that I really have to pay more attention to my body now. I used to just try to ignore it. Not now.

chazpbg, you should follow the food stages that YOUR doctor has given you, every doc is different but why chance stretching your pouch, It's not about choking it's about letting yourself heal and they don't not want your stomach to churn during this phase.

Like I said every doc is different but I was told no alcohol for 6 weeks

The best thing for the gas is to walk, walk, walk, some say that heating pads are useful as well, as far as the sour feeling call your doc if you experience nausea because it's important not to throw up.

And as far as the reflux my doc said to take a prilosec if I had this problem, so call and ask them what is best.

No scolding. It's good that you come here and ask questions, but I was banded a week before you and when I reflect back at all the months of dealing with paperwork, insurance, and doc appts the last thing I want to do is chance having to start over because I decided to jump the gun and caused damage. The stages will pass quickly and next thing we know we are on regular diet.... Good Luck!!!!!!!

and congrats on the weight loss!