Childhood Pancreas

I have hereditary chronic pancreatitis, diagnosed at age 10. I am now 22 and have had many recurrent flare ups over the years--some worse than others. I can tell you from personal experience, drinking is not good for your pancreas. To be honest, I still do it--i guess we all do things that are bad for us until they catch up with us--but I know I shouldn't. I know I am destroying my pancreas by doing it---you have to make the decision. Drinking is probably the single worst thing you can do!

Regardless of what caused pancreatitis, drinking is the worse thing you can do if you have any pancreatic disorder. The 3 main things that shouldbe avoided are:
1. Alcohol
2. Fat in the diet
3. Stress

you are very young yet, and might not wirry about how life will be when you are 40 or 50 or even 60. It does get worse with time!!

I am now 47 yrs old and I think my first attack happened when I was 8 years old. Only I never got a diagnosis. Was just told it was an "intestinal disorder of unknown origin". If only I knew then what I know now.... I was never a heavy drinker, but I did drink socially, until I found out about the pancreatitis about 5 years ago. If I knew that pancreatitis was my problem, I would have never drank any!! I hurt bad every single day of my life!! And that is the beginning of all the problems I have now................ I know a place where teens can go and get support from other teens with this disease.