Living with Pancreatitis

At age 27 I came down with what I thought was the flu. It was right after xmas and new years...drinking alcohol was nothing short of an on going game for several weeks of partying and fun. But hey....Im was a single girl in my 20's with no family around for the holidays and nothing better to do than party it up with friends. Until that "flu came" ....well, it came and never went....10 days later of non stop throwing up, sharp pains in my side and non stop visits to that golden throne. Finally a friend of mine brought me to the ER. Expecting just to be sent home, the doctor came back in and told me I had to stay for at least a week. "WHAT?!?!?!?" I said. He then told me I had Pancreatitis and that my potassium levels were so low I was on the verge of having a seizer/death. I had no idea what he was saying and I had never even heard of Pancreatitis before. He also was puzzled why I had it. Saying I was one of these things; Over weight male...negative...Elderly... negative...alcoholic...well I knew I wasnt an alcoholic, but had no idea I was drinking THAT much. I assured the doctor I was only a social drinker and drank only on the weekends. It didnt matter. I always took good care of myself, I always worked out and eat healthy food. I was in shock of this new diagnosis. I was kept in the hospital for an agonizing 5 days. They did not let me eat the entire time as I needed to flush EVERYTHING out of my system. For over 2 months after I finally made it home I barely could keep down more than water and a slice of bread. The pain when I ate ANYTHING was enough to send me bent over in agony and tears. For months I had to find foods that I could handle eating. I quickly ruled out ALL meats. Milk. Coffee. Soda. Chips. Anything fried. Anything greasy. I was down to a diet of fresh fruit (non acidic), veggies, rice, peanut butter and bread. Now a single sip of wine will put me back in the hospital. I can strangely manage a glass or two of a mixed drink every once in a blue moon, and beer is a huge no no. Now...a year later...I still cant eat meats, so I've gladly taken on the title "vegetarian". I can eat sea food, crab, shrimp, fish etc. And I eat many fruits and Veggies. Pasta is easy as long as its not in a tomato sauce. Over the year I have met 4 other people with Pancreatitis. 3 of them are the same age or slightly younger than me. Our bodies no longer can handle the garbage we put into it. I have taken this diagnosis and used it to my benefit. Now...by force...I can no longer eat the garbage that Americans eat on a daily basis. Fast foods, Frozen foods, Processed foods etc. This has been a huge learning experience for myself and those around me who have helped me through. Be aware people of what you are putting into your bodies and the effect it DOES have on you. You always think "that will never happen to me". But it can.