My Story

My name is Emily Ihrke Akerberg and back in March, 2010, I began experiencing upset stomachs, unusual cramping and sensations of being extremely full after eating a modest amount.  This was extremely rare for my iron-clad digestive system…up until this point, nothing upset it.  I knew something wasn’t right.  Having been blessed with phenomenal health up until this point, I didn’t even have a general practitioner that I could call.  After some co-worker referrals, I visited a local internist.  After a routine exam that revealed nothing alarming they requested a CT scan.  Two jugs of barium and 10 minutes later I was informed that everything was normal and left with a list of over the counter meds to help reduce the bloating/cramps/antacid, etc.

Fast-forward three months and the symptoms were still persisting.  One day in early June, 2010 I had some time in between meetings and decided to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist.  Later that week I was explaining my symptoms once again.  This time I left the office with a follow up appointment for a colonoscopy for the following week – oh joy.  Actually, as twisted as it sounds, I was actually looking forward to the procedure.  Not the actual procedure itself, rather the idea that this test could shed some more light on the pain and discomfort I was experiencing.  I actually hoped they would find something.  The last thing I wanted was for them to send me home saying everything looked normal – just like it had with the CT scan.  I knew something wasn’t right, and this was the opportunity to find out what it was.

Everyone I talked to said the preparation for the colonoscopy was the worst part of the entire procedure.  Having done plenty of natural detoxes and cleanses in the past, however, I wasn’t that phased by the Movi-prep.  The morning of the procedure was a bit strange; other than a trip to the ER for an acute case of poison ivy in junior high, I hadn’t been a hospital patient since birth!  Several nurses did a double-take at my chart, not understanding why this 28-year old in front of them was about to undergo a colonoscopy.  I joked with one of them saying I can’t wait to see what my new boob job looks like when I wake up!  Note to self: always keep your nurses in good spirits, they are important to have on your side : )

After a quick does of the ‘twilight’ anesthesia (apparently known for being one of Michael Jackson’s favorites), I was off in a deep sleep for what seemed like a good eight hours.  Upon waking, the first thing I noticed was a sheet of images that were sitting on the nurses table at the end of my bed.  Hmmm, do they take images of a healthy colon? Seemed like a waste of paper to me.  As I came to, the nurse indicated the doctor wanted to speak with Nick and I.  The look on his face said everything.  They had found a mass during the procedure – 10 cm from the anal opening.  It was large enough that they couldn’t even pass the scope through to complete the colonoscopy.  They had taken a biopsy of the mass and had sent it off for additional testing to find out if it was cancerous or not.  He was going to follow up with a phone call in 2 – 5 days.  Never before did I imagine what it was like waiting for a phone call to find out if I had cancer. During the next few days, I didn’t talk much about the procedure or what had been found…no sense in worrying everyone over a benign tumor.  Six days later the phone call came. The mass was malignant.