and the beat goes on

I read like 6 books this weekend- true story. Not big, complicated 1000 page books. Just fun stuff. (Oh and thanks to my niecy babysitting gig I got to watch the first 3 episodes of True Blood Season 4.... 4.1? Are they really splitting it up into 2... ummm mini-seasons?) Anyway. So, this was a fun, relaxed, lazy as sin weekend. But, NF never takes the weekend off so here we go...

~NF Awareness Month~

Here's the deal with NF (2 or otherwise)- its a totally non-racist, non-biased, equal opportunity employeer. It doesn't care if you're a guy or a girl, black or white, gay or straight. It affects one in 25,000 males and females of all races and ethnic groups. And, like I mentioned before, 50% of cases are genetic mutations, no warning. (like moi.) For this reason there are a couple "levels" for diagnosing NF2:

Confirmed (definite) NF2:

• Bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VS) (also known as acoustic neuroma)

Presumptive (probable) NF2:

• Family history of NF2 (first degree family relative*) plus:
• Unilateral VS or any two of the following:
  meningioma, glioma, schwannoma, juvenile posterior subcapsular lenticular opacity, juvenile cortical cataract

In addition, individuals with the following clinical features should be evaluated for NF2:

• Unilateral VS plus at least two of any of the following: meningioma, glioma, schwannoma, juvenile posterior subcapsular lenticular opacities/juvenile cortical cataract
• Multiple meningiomas (2 or more) plus unilateral VS or any two of the following: glioma, schwannoma, juvenile posterior subcapsular lenticular opacities/juvenile cortical cataract

So, how was I confirmed to be a mutant? When I had the MRI senior year I was immediately a "confirmed" case because my mega-brain was sporting some new additions. The BVS- bilateral vestibular schwannomas. In plain talk that means one tiny tumor on the right side at the hearing/balance nerve center, just hanging out. And one even tinier tumor on the left side wreaking havoc (hence, the "I don't think I can hear as well (technically, at all) out of my left ear").  Because, contrary to popular belief (in this case at least), size doesn't matter. ;)


*Remind me to talk about THIS tomorrow- I got a good story!