Ron Nafstad Ron Nafstad

Hi Family and Friends ,


Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support, prayers and words of hope and encouragement. Thank you for visiting.


On Thursday, November 18th our Dad (Ron) was diagnosed with Liver Cirrhosis (Liver Disease).  On Friday, November 19th he was admitted to the hospital to begin the process of treatments.  Not long after he was admitted, he had a Paracentesis performed which is a procedure to remove fluid from the abdomen. This procedure is necessary but unfortunately has some side effects and caused him to lose a lot of the key nutrients needed to support the liver such as potassium, proteins, magnesium and others. Over the weekend, the focus was to restore these key nutrients and vitamins to begin medications that would help get his liver to function again. He was given lots of Albumin, potassium and also had a blood transfusion. 


By Monday, his vitals and key nutrient levels were in the normal range and have continued to be in the normal range since - this is GREAT news! Since then, we have been talking with GI Doctors about next steps in his treatment plan.  The focus over the last couple days was to get his blood pressure up a bit to be able to start some diuretics to help his body get rid of fluid build up.  On Tuesday, we were able to start low doses of both Spironolactone and Lasix which is great.  This medication is a slow process and over time (days/weeks) will facilitate the fluid release. 


Aside from all the medication to help treat his Cirrhosis, he is also being given some oxycodone and gabapentin as he has been in a lot of pain. It took a couple days to tweak these medications and also allow his liver and kidneys to restore enough nutrients for these medications to metabolize through his body.  So happy to say that over the last two days, he has been in less pain.  Side effects to this is he has been sleepy/drowsy which is not necessarily a bad thing as his body does need a lot of rest, it also makes him less interested in eating which is a challenge because he could really afford to eat a double cheeseburger right now!


He's hanging in there, really been a trooper and persists on getting up and moving on his own as much as possible.  The nurses and staff here have been absolutely wonderful!  Especially Ashley - Dad really likes her.  He was a little upset and crabby when she took a day off, but she's back and he is happy about that. 


Thank you all for your prayers, calls/texts, messages and well wishes! We are so very grateful for the support of our family and friends and feeling the strength and love! Keep it coming - He is fighting!