My Brain Aneurysm Journey

I know each time I post (which hasn’t been much) I always say that I’m going to start posting more. It has absolutely been my plan for quite a while to reboot this blog and start writing again. However, something always seems to get in the way. I’ve been meaning to share my Brain Aneurysm story for a while. I can't even tell you how many times I've sat down to write it, or even just mentally draft a post, and I just couldn't do it. I guess I just wasn't ready. But today marks another milestone - exactly a year ago today I had my second surgery to treat my aneurysms. What a great time to finally share my story, right? So, if you're going through something similar, if you just got diagnosed and are looking for more information, or you're just interested in brain aneurysms, buckle up, because this is going to be a long post!

If you’re new to my blog you might not know that I’ve been struggling with my health for quite some time. As I’ve shared in the past, I previously suffered from mold illness which kicked off a bunch of issues. I got to a better place after a couple years, not cured but better, and then I got Covid in 2022. This really knocked me sideways. I suffered from Long Covid, then I was diagnosed with Dysautonomia and then more specifically, POTS Syndrome (a form of Dysautonomia) but that’s all a post for a different day! 

MY DIAGNOSIS

In September 2023 I was finally getting a handle on my health plan. I met with my PCP and we came up with a gameplan of specialist visits and diagnostic tests. I was feeling pretty good about it and finally felt like maybe I was on the path to get some answers. In the midst of all this, my Mom’s Neurologist wanted me to get an MRA because of a health scare my Mom had had at the beginning of the year. During my appointment with my NP, I halfheartedly handed her the letter from my Moms Neurosurgeon recommending the screening, not even remotely thinking that I would be getting ready to get the biggest diagnosis of my life to date. 

Scan day came and I walked out the door feeling good about my appointment and positive that nothing would be found. An MRA is a simple test, much like an MRI, but instead of looking at brain matter, it can see the complete vasculature inside your brain. My scan went well, lasted around just 8 minutes, and I was home before I knew it. Not even ten minutes after being home, I got a notification from my PCP. I opened up the message and saw words I never thought I would see in my lifetime. “You have 3 unruptured cerebral aneurysms. You need to make an appointment with a Neurosurgeon as soon as you can.” 

One thing I didn’t share is that my Moms health scare (all fine and not a stroke like they thought) ended up showing two small unruptured cerebral aneurysms in the ophthalmic segment of her internal carotid artery. Being that there was a family history, I was recommended to get screened. I knew what I was being scanned for, but I never ever thought I would have one, let alone three! I actually had no idea how common they are. Did you know 1 in 50 people have an unruptured brain aneurysm and don’t even know? I certainly didn’t! But that’s how common they are. 

I was reeling. To be honest, I didn't know much about Brain Aneurysms at all. All I knew was the ruptures can be deadly. I immediately called my Husband and asked him to come home from work. I called that day to make my appointment with Neurosurgery and met with the Neurosurgeon that next week. In the time leading up to my appointment I learned more about brain aneurysms than I ever thought possible. Some of it very interesting, and a lot of it very scary. 

The following week I met with the first Doctor, and he explained my case and recommended a Cerebral Angiogram. Some aneurysms can be watched if they are small enough, or in a certain area, but if you have aneurysms above a certain size this is what’s recommended to get a better look. Angio’s show so much more than the standard MRA - accurate size, accurate location, surface, etc. The test is considered a procedure, as they insert a catheter into your wrist or groin and go through that artery up to your brain. It's basically the way they can really map out a potential surgery and see exactly which procedure is needed to treat the aneurysm(s). 

By now I was freaking out! The first Neurosurgeon was very nice, but I didn’t feel like much was explained. It was kind of like this is what we’re doing, and we want to do it immediately. In all fairness, I think I was still in shock, so maybe my expectations were a little high. I also think that they are so knowledgeable and are obviously Neurosurgeons, so maybe some don't feel as though they have to answer a million questions. They do this every single day, so I get it. But at this point, I wasn't sure if they were the right fit for me, so I decided to meet with a very well-respected Neurosurgeon from Penn in Philadelphia. I got in quickly and my appointment went well. I felt like we had more of a connection, and I decided to move forward with my Angio with him. 

NEXT STEPS

Fast forward a few weeks and I finally had my Angio. The way I obsessed over this procedure leading up to it, was crazy. I read everything about it and even watched a YouTube video of someone getting one! I was super nervous, but the test went ok. I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t the most pleasant procedure, but it was tolerable and much needed. The Angio revealed that I had three unruptured wide-neck aneurysms. Two on the left side of my brain (lateral clinoidal and superior hypophyseal), and one on the right (superior hypophyseal) in my Internal Carotid arteries. Two of them were bilateral, meaning they were in the same spot on each side of my brain and the remaining was right near the left aneurysm on the other side of my artery. The bad news was that they are inside of my brain, which means that if they were to ever rupture, they would result in a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Surgery was recommended due to the risk of having multiple and my potential life expectancy, and I would need two separate procedures.

By now my head was spinning. I was reading everything I could to be educated in order to make my upcoming decision. This made me feel better in some ways and worse in a lot of ways. You come across a lot of scary stories researching brain aneurysms. I had no idea whether I should risk surgery or risk waiting. There seems to be risk no matter what we do. What if I rupture? What if I have complications post-surgery? What if I make the wrong choice? What if… what if… what if… This is the fork in the road for everyone and it's a very personal decision not to be taken lightly.

I had my Angio follow up a couple weeks later with my Penn surgeon and he explained my results in detail. He recommended Neuroendovascular Flow Diversion surgery. This was my only option for treatment due to the location in my brain (not that I wasn't thankful I didn't need a craniotomy), but each type of treatment carries their own risks. I did not doubt his expertise, his recommendations, or his approach, but after speaking with other brain aneurysm survivors, I decided to get a second opinion. I knew that my treatment plan would most likely be the same, but I think I was in a state of denial that I absolutely needed surgery right now or if they could be watched. I just couldn't get past this weird feeling of just moving forward, and felt like I needed to see one more Doctor.

This time I decided to search Jefferson Philadelphia and found an amazing female Neurosurgeon that I was drawn to immediately. At this point, my Husband thinks I’m crazy for wanting to see someone else. We both really liked the Penn Doc and he was very well regarded, but something in my gut was pulling me in a different direction. 

We met with Dr. Tjoumakaris out of Jefferson Center City a couple weeks later and before she even spoke, I knew she was my Surgeon as soon as she opened the exam room door and smiled. She’s absolutely brilliant for so many reasons that I couldn't even list them all here, she’s a badass but has an excellent bedside manner, and I felt so cared for both by her and her staff. She answered every single question I had in detail, went over my treatment plan and educated me as to why I needed to do this procedure. There was no question that when she said I needed to move forward with my surgeries, that I not only trusted her, but that she was the one I wanted to perform them. 

Like many scary health journeys, the Doctor you choose is extremely personal and so important because this will potentially be a long relationship!  When you're dealing with a brain diagnosis, you really want to make sure you feel as comfortable and confident in your care as you possibly can. That's what I was still searching for and what I found with Dr. T and Jefferson.

TREATMENT AND RECOVERY

So obviously, since I mentioned today being the 1 year Aneu-versary of my 2nd surgery, I went through both procedures as recommended. I spent a wonderful Holiday with my family that December, soaked up as much Christmas magic as I could, and spent a lot of time ruminating over my life. On January 11th I celebrated my "New Year, New You" on an exam table at the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience treating 2 out of my 3 cerebral brain aneurysms. I had an eventful overnight stay in the ICU - the hospital was crazy that day with so many emergencies, but they were great and we got through it. The next day I was home and on my way to healing to prep for my next surgery exactly 3 months to the day on April 11th. 

I had Endovascular surgery with a device called a Pipeline Flow Diverter. It's basically a little mesh stent, but it has a coating on it that helps prevent clots as the artery heals. One thing that a lot of people might not know is that while a craniotomy is a very invasive, difficult surgery and there is obviously a lot of risk involved, and the recovery is much much more involved (I can't even imagine!!), Neuroendovascular treatment has its risks and drawbacks as well. There's still quite a recovery time, sometimes the aneurysms don't shrink or don't heal, and you may need another surgery at some point. You also have to be on dual antiplatelet therapy for quite a while. I'm actually still on the meds! And I'm not saying this to scare you, freak you out, or make you question whether you should get treatment, if you happen to be here reading because you were just diagnosed. I just want to be up front and honest. These are the realities of the risk vs the reward and are things a very good Neurosurgeon will go over with you. 

Do I still have my tough days? Of course! I've been through a lot with my health the last few years, so I still struggle mentally and emotionally some days. But I have no regrets. Even though this is not a diagnosis for the faint of heart, even though it's been quite a wild ride for the last year+ of my life, and even though I still have my difficult days, I'm grateful that my aneurysms were found. I had an option for treatment and some people don't have that. Some don't even know that they have aneurysms until they suffer from an event or start having symptoms. I know how lucky I am, which is why I felt that sharing my story and as much information as I could is important. 

Today all 3 of my aneurysms are gone. One of them is taking a little longer to heal than we thought, and I had to continue my meds for a bit longer than projected, but that's ok. I'm thankful that I'm here, that I never have to worry about a rupture, and that I moved forward. I truly could never thank Dr. T and the rest of the Jefferson Team enough. You are all so amazing and not only most likely saved my life, but also made a huge difference in my life. Your dedication to your patients and their care is something I will never forget. Thank you. 

 If you or someone you know is dealing with a similar diagnosis, please feel free to reach out to me. I had an amazing support system with a few women that I found through Instagram and a Facebook group (if you want that info, I can send you an invite). While my family support was fantastic, I don't know how I would have gotten through it all without those women. I'm happy to answer any questions regarding my experience and am happy to help how I can. I'm an open book! I'm also going to list and link some resources that helped me through my journey.

RESOURCES AFTER DIAGNOSIS

Brain Aneurysm Foundation 

The Bee Foundation

This webinar through BAF that features my Neurosurgeon and answers so many questions

My Instagram account where I documented my experience in real time and posted info in my story highlights

Feel free to contact me with any questions. And if you made it this far, thank you for letting me share my story with you!

Christy 

xo

My Post-Illness Hair Loss Story

 I've always had a love/hate relationship with my hair. It's naturally curly and not really the nice curls, it's more the unruly, frizzy curls that nothing seems to tame. I also just don't think I have a face meant for curly hair. It's just never looked right to me. But right now, I'm just happy to have hair at all. 

As I had mentioned in a previous post, I had Covid the beginning of January. I didn't get too much into it in that post, but I had a horrible time with it and was very close to being admitted into the hospital. I had Covid Pneumonia and while my oxygen levels remained on the very border of normal to low normal, they dipped dangerously low when I slept. After doing some research, it looks as though I may have been having some kind of neuro response when I would try to sleep and it felt like my body simply would forget how to breathe. It didn't matter what position I slept in. The second I would start to fall asleep, I would feel as though I was holding my breath and would wake up gasping. Kind of like an apnea, but not really. Thankfully, this went away a couple weeks after my lungs finally started to feel better. I also wasn't really able to eat much at a certain point and my white blood cells got pretty low. My body was without normal levels of oxygen and nutrition for a few weeks. I also ended up with long haul as well. 

It did take me some time to get better even after the worst of it passed. I believe this was due to my past issues with Mold illness and chronic Epstein-Barr reactivations. I had lots of strange symptoms for a while, even after I started to feel better. There's even quite a few that currently linger to this day and it's been 5 months! But there was one symptom in particular that I was not prepared for at all, which was post-covid hair loss, also known as Telogen Effluvium post-covid. 

At the end of March I noticed quite a bit of hair starting to fall out in the shower when I was washing my hair. I've dealt with some shedding in the past with Epstein-Barr, but this was a lot more. By the end of that week I had handfuls coming out. I stopped washing my hair every day and coincidentally, I had a couple friends post about post-covid hair loss on Instagram. That's when I started researching and found out so many people are dealing with this! It's actually sad that this is a bit of an epidemic and no one seems to be talking about it. I'm in a Facebook group specifically for those dealing with this, and last I looked there were over 11,000 members! I'm sure it's more by now. 

  

  

 

So for the last few weeks I've been having literal handfuls of hair fall out with each wash. I documented with pictures, rather than keeping the hair like some Docs suggest to that I could compare the loss over time. This started the very end of March, but I started taking pics when it really started getting bad. As you can see, it's quite a lot! And all of these, with the exception of the one noted, were only when washed or rinsed. I tried to minimally style, but a lot more would fall out when I did so. Also, my vacuum is filled with hair =(  I will say, aside from being sick with Covid, this has been one of the most traumatic things I've dealt with concerning my health in some time. I know it's just hair, but as a woman it's so hard. There have been so many days that I've just cried and cried. My son is graduating High School mid-June and that's been a huge reason as to why I've been so upset. I have been so worried  I would need to wear a wig to the ceremony. But you will see from the pics closer to now that it's a bit less, and yesterday was a lot less even counting the hair loss from styling (I forgot to take a pic).

Luckily for me, I had quite a lot of hair. It's very thin now. I've lost at least half, possibly a little more. But I feel truly lucky as some women really lose so much more. Lately it seems to be slowing down (fingers crossed). I'm not sure if maybe this corresponds with the length of time that I was very sick. It seems that those that are admitted to the hospital or need to go on oxygen, suffer the extreme shedding for much longer. I have been doing some different things, so I'm not sure if they are actually helping or if it's just a coincidence that I started them right around the time that my shedding started to slow down. It really seemed to slow almost overnight after using a couple things, so I wanted to share what I've been doing/using in case it could possibly help someone else. 

One of the big things with hair is that if you are malnourished, deficient in certain vitamins, lacking proper nutrition from nutrient-dense foods, etc your hair will suffer. This was the first thing I began to work on - mainly in the form of supplements, as I already live a pretty healthy lifestyle. One thing I do need to mention is that Telogen Effluvium is caused by a trauma, whether that be an illness like Covid, an accident, a surgery, or an extreme stress in ones life. The hair basically gets shocked into the resting phase for a period of time and it will fall out. You will actually noticed with TE that all the hairs that shed will have white ends. This is due to the lack of pigment. In fact, a lot of my hairs that are already starting to grow back in are white or a lot lighter than my natural hair. I'm not complaining! I'm just grateful that the shedding is slowing and it's growing. What I'm getting at is that you may not be able to stop the shedding. What was shocked from trauma will fall out regardless. But if you have deficiencies or other things also effecting your TE, this can prevent new shedding or prolonged resting phase. 

So I started with really being gentle with my hair. When I wash it, I do so without running my fingers through it completely. I'm just as gentle as possible. I did try a shampoo and conditioner that I thought might strengthen my existing hair, but I ended up going back to my current haircare, as the new stuff was causing too many tangles. I use Briogeo. I think if you are struggling with TE, maybe focusing on what makes your hair feel healthy is a good thing. I would just suggest that you don't use anything loaded with chemicals. Briogeo isn't completely clean, but it's a better option that most and my picky hair doesn't like a lot of the squeaky clean brands out there. 

After washing I very carefully press my hair with a towel, spray on my tried and true Honest Detangling Spray that I've been using for years (love the new one!) and use a wide tooth comb. At first I was using a brush and this was just pulling way too much hair out. I wish I had thought to get the comb early on. Then I use a terry head wrap. This allows my hair to dry a little and soaks up some of the water without anything pulling on my hair. I've been trying to keep styling to a minimum, so most of the time I let it dry as long as I can and I just pull it up in a loose knot with a silk hair tie. 

Beyond that, here are the supplements I'm taking. Please note that because I'm not a Doctor, and health is not a "one size fits all", that I'm not recommending what you should take. This is merely what works for me. I strongly recommend speaking with your Primary Physician before starting any new supplements and possibly even getting some bloodwork. 

- I use a Multivitamin. I know there's some controversy about whether they are good or not, as you can end up with too much of some things and not enough of other things. However, I notice a different when I don't take them, and I don't take full servings of other supplements, so this works for me. I like the Smartypants Women's Gummies. I know they have sugar and they aren't perfect, but I like them and they aren't extremely expensive. 

- B Complex Vits - These are important for me anyway, as I had my gallbladder out years ago and people without a gallbladder tend to be deficient in B vits. I take half the dose since my Multi already has B vits (just not enough for me). I don't really recommend a specific one. Just make sure they are methylated! 

- I take a Zinc Supplement from Organic Olivia. This one also has Quercetin in it, which is great for allergies and the immune system. The reason I love this supplement so much is because it has copper in it as well. When you take Zinc, it needs to be taken with copper. But you have to be careful because you don't want too much copper in the body either! Try to find a balanced zinc supplement. Many people that had Covid are deficient in Zinc and it can effect your hair. 

- I also found these hair gummies that I like. They don't contain collagen, which is a must for me, as I seem to be allergic. I do know a lot of women dealing with TE having been having great results in regrowth from collagen, so if you have a good one, go for it! I just personally can't use it, so I use these gummies that have Biotin, Keratin, Amla, Horsetail, and Silica. I think they must be working for me since my eyelashes seem longer and thicker! ps - keep in mind that Biotin can effect Thyroid panels. I you are being treated for anything Thyroid related or testing for Thyroid issues, make sure to stop any supplements with Biotin 3 days prior to testing and let you practitioner know you take it.

- The last one is another controversial supp for some, and it's Vit D3/K2. Over the last couple years I've researched quite a bit about the dangers of supplementing with synthetic Vit D3 and how the best way to get it is Sunshine. I do believe this to be true. However, when I was sick, it was freezing out and I couldn't get out in the sun. I've probably been deficient and though I can get daily sun time at this point, I still feel like I need that little bit extra and I started seeing a change in my hair fall. I take a chewable with only 2000 iu in it. It also has K2 which I always recommend. I also take this at night with my Magnesium Glycinate as this helps the D3 to properly absorb. I did feel noticeably different when I made this change. Even though I don't love the supplementation, at this moment in time I feel like the reward is higher than the risk. And I will ween off in a few weeks. 

- I also take Ashwagandha for stress! Stress is a huge thing with TE. I was literally so anxious and depressed at first, but I had to really surrnder and let it be. That's so hard, I know. But it was necessary for me to learn to manage my stress and not make the TE worse!

I also rotate some supp’s that are part of my normal every day regimen, but have backed off to focus on my hair health - NAC, a Thyroid/Adrenal supplement, NAD+, and CoQ10 with PQQ for mitochondrial health. 

The last thing I want to recommend is topical products. I have been using these hair oils and they've been working really well! RTHVI is an Ayurvedic company and uses all natural ingredients that promote hair health and growth, without added chemicals, silicones, etc. Hair oils can possibly clog the follicles and cause more shedding, so just make sure to use them carefully. I follow the instructions for the oils and only use them 3x per week. I also use them in the morning and leave on for 3 hours before washing. That way they have time do deliver the nutrients to my scalp without clogging. The company recommended their Ashwagandha oil for the stress on my hair and I felt like it helped after one use! They also recommended their Revitalize Growth Oil, which I love! The site also has tons of other amazing products, including shampoo and conditioner, though I haven't tried it. Just make sure that whatever you use, it's not filled with toxic chemicals, and silicones. That's the last thing you want to be putting on your scalp when you're dealing with hair loss! A weekly Apple Cider Vinegar rinse is also great! It keeps the scalp buildup away and is soothing. 

I also think it’s important to mention overall self-care. I try to watch my stress levels, I try to get some light movement in, get out in the sunshine, use my sauna blanket, do red light therapy, practice grounding outside, read books, etc. 

I'll do another update soon, but I truly hope this helps you if you're also struggling with TE. It can be so traumatic and depressing. Just know you aren't alone! If you ever want to chat, feel free to contact me anytime!! 

Can't Look Away by Carola Lovering - A Book Review

Title: Can't Look Away
Author: Carola Lovering
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 320 pages
Pub Date: June 14, 2022
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Book Details from the Publisher:

From the author of Tell Me Lies and Too Good to Be True comes Carola Lovering's Can't Look Away, a sexy suspense novel about the kind of addictive, obsessive love that keeps you coming back––no matter how hard you try to look away.

In 2013, twenty-three-year-old Molly Diamond is a barista, dreaming of becoming a writer. One night at a concert in Brooklyn, she locks eyes with the lead singer, Jake Danner, and can’t look away. Molly and Jake fall quickly and deeply in love, especially after he writes a hit song about her that puts his band on the map.

Nearly a decade later, Molly has given up writing and is living in Flynn Cove, Connecticut with her young daughter and her husband Hunter—who is decidedly not Jake Danner. Their life looks picture-perfect, but Molly is lonely; she feels out of place with the other women in their wealthy suburb and is struggling to conceive their second child. When Sabrina, a newcomer in town, walks into the yoga studio where Molly teaches and confesses her own fertility struggles, Molly believes she's finally found a friend.

But Sabrina has her own reasons for moving to Flynn Cove and befriending Molly. And as Sabrina’s secrets are slowly unspooled, her connection to Molly becomes clearer––as do secrets of Molly's own, which she’s worked hard to keep buried.

Meanwhile, a new version of Jake's hit song is on the radio, forcing Molly to confront her past and ask the ultimate questions: What happens when life turns out nothing like we thought it would, when we were young and dreaming big? Does growing up mean choosing with your head, rather than your heart? And do we ever truly get over our first love?

My Review:

Being a sucker for a good thriller, I was immediately sucked in after reading the plot of Can't Look Away. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book and as soon as I did, I couldn't dig in fast enough. Once I started reading, I got sucked in and had a really hard time putting it down. I found myself taking breaks to live my life but couldn't wait to get back to the world of Molly & Jake. One of the things I loved most about this book, is that while classified as a Thriller, it has so many layers beyond that. The character development was outstanding. You really get a feel for each character and can almost picture them as if you're watching a movie. In my opinion, the best books are those that you can't remember if you read it or watched it! 

It's hard to really get into what I loved most without giving too much away, but I feel like Can't Look Away is just as much of a love story as it is a thriller. If one or the other is not your usual cup of tea, give it a chance, I promise you, the love is all necessary for the thrill! Everything in this book just progressed so well and was so well done. It truly got to my core, touched me in so many moments, and because I'm such a romantic at heart, it was really gut-wrenching for me at times. I got so attached to the characters and fell in love with Jake right along with Molly. This was one of the best books I had read in a long time and one of the few I would read again at some point. In fact, I think it would make an excellent movie or mini-series - fingers crossed!!! (Speaking of books to Tv/Movies….  One of my absolute favorite things to do when I fall in love with a book, is to cast it in my mind! I came across this site last year where you can do just that. Check out my stories and let me know if you agree)

The only slight negative that I have is that I was so torn throughout the story. But that's my selfish feelings, not any reflection whatsoever on the Author or her beautiful book. Being torn means you feel things and feeling things for people that only exist in a story is only possible while reading an exceptionally good book! Carola Lovering truly delivers. There was anguish, disbelief, anger, sadness, and even tears, which doesn't happen often for me! 

About the Author (from her website):

Carola Lovering is the author of the novels Tell Me Lies, Too Good to Be True, and the forthcoming Can’t Look Away. She attended Colorado College, and her work has appeared in New York Magazine, W Magazine, National Geographic, Outside, and Yoga Journal, among other publications. Her novel, Tell Me Lies, is currently being adapted into a television series for Hulu. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and son.

also find her on: twitter - instagram - facebook

Ps - I was so excited to see that Tell Me Lies is being adapted into a TV Series on Hulu! I had read this book a couple years ago and really enjoyed it. Can't Look Away is not due to release until 6/14/22, so make sure to check out Carola's other books before you pre-order!!!

So many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me the ARC of this amazing book to review! And thanks to Carola for creating such beautiful people and stories!! 

I'm Back!

Wow! I really can't believe it's been over two years since my last blog post!! So much has happened in the world between then and now, it truly feels like a lifetime ago. I know I've popped in here from time to time over the last several years and have had grand plans of relaunching my blog, but this time I'm so excited that I can actually follow through with that plan! Me and my family came down with C*vid right after the Holiday (who didn't, right?!) and I had a tough time. I ended up with pneumonia and long-haul, while, my Husband and Son felt like they had a bad cold for two days and sailed on through. For me, it was one of the most weird, scary experiences, and while sparing this from turning into a C*vid post, I believe that my past issues with Mold Illness and Epstein-Barr are to blame for the severity of my illness. The point of this story is that because of my Long-Haul, I resigned from my job. 

Now I'll finally have the time to do all the things I want with this blog. I'm super excited because writing has always been a bit cathartic for me, and I could honestly use that right now. You'll definitely be seeing a lot more posts from me! Think Book Reviews (this will most likely be one of, if not the first official post), Organic Beauty posts, Wellness Gadgets, Healthy Recipes, and whatever else I feel like posting about! I'm also considering possibly moving this blog to Wordpress or Squarespace. If you have some experience with this or have any thoughts on it, please feel free to drop a comment below or reach out to me! I would love some honest feedback. 

I'm really looking forward to getting back into this again! I already feel more like myself as I type. Look for an exciting Book Review soon!!!

Intellipure Ultrafine 468 Air Purification System - A Review

Hi, lovelies! I had posted about my Mold Story earlier in the week and wanted to do a separate post about this amazing Air Purifier I purchased. As I had said in the closing of my post, indoor air quality is becoming a major issue and the EPA is rating it the number 1 environmental risk facing humans, and not just because of mold! Ultrafine Particles, carbon monoxide, lead from paint and other chemicals in our consumer products, as well as dust, pollen, mold spores, and VOC's are quickly degrading our air, and not everyone has the knowledge or the funds to help combat this by avoiding certain contaminants. As much as I commit to living a very healthy lifestyle, I really can't afford an organic sofa and cork flooring. Not that there's anything wrong with these things - I would love them in my home! It's just not a possibility in my life at the moment. And with the environment changing constantly, it's almost impossible to completely avoid these things unless you live in a bubble! This is where things like air purification come in. It's an easy way to help improve the air quality in your home and also the health of you and your loved ones.

As far as research goes, I had my work cut out for me! I looked all over the internet, scouring article after article. I found this post on Surviving Mold especially helpful, because it talked about mold & mycotoxins, specifically. After really researching and being so sick at the time, I even ordered a pretty pricey unit after thinking I had finally found "the one" and promptly sent it back after having many issues from receiving one of the few units with a manufacturers defect. All I can say is, do your homework! But hopefully you don't have to, because this one is the bees knees.

In my search there were quite a few things I was looking for & were absolute requirements...

- Filters particles down to the smallest possible, including Mycotoxins & VOC's

- No or Low EMF's coming off the unit with running

- No ionizing of any kind, as to avoid ozone

- No hydroxyl technology, as the research states that the byproducts of this can be harmful

- ease of use, moveable from room to room, and energy efficient

- Cost of unit and also cost of replacement filters was also a factor

After my bad experience with the previous company, and the fact that I needed to find a stellar purifier since we decided to stay in our home, I decided that I was willing to pay a little more than initially intended. I just wanted to purchase a unit that would give us the best air quality we could find. I came across a review on Intellipure in that mold site article and I decided to start looking into them. I was extremely impressed with their DFS technology ,the filtration down to .007 microns, and the fact that they are also medical-grade and utilized in hospitals, medical clean rooms, government buildings, and military applications! After a lot of thinking I went with the bigger Ultrafine 468 model and am so glad I did! Some of advantages of this unit include:

Product Performance:

• Patented DFS Technology- deactivates mold, bacteria, and virus in the filters through Microbiostasis condition, which prohibits the breed through effect, where living organisms captured can grow inside the filter and be released back into the environment
• Proprietary blend of granulars proven to adsorb a high level of gases and odors
• Greater lifetime filter performance due to lower density media, resulting in much longer lifetime performance of the filter
• Reduction of dangerous Micro-plastics
• High level reduction of mycotoxins
• Highly effective on all speeds

Product Features:

• Highest-quality EC motor results in 50% less operating cost than other machines on the market
• Incredibly energy efficient
• Highest CFM per decibel level or noise
• Less dense media filters for maximum airflow and filtration power
• Quick and easy filter maintenance and replacement
• Individually tested and certified, guaranteed to be 40x more efficient than HEPA

I've had my unit since September 19th (funny enough, this is my birthday) and I absolutely love it!!! It has different levels of purification, meaning you can adjust it to pull in air on the low side, or on as high as turbo if you want to put it in a room and leave it. I wouldn't recommend this high if you're in the room, because Turbo mode is a little loud!! I was actually quite surprised at how quiet it is in the normal modes. Even on the middle setting, with it right next to me sleeping, it just sounded like white noise. And I'm a light sleeper!

The air quality is fantastic! I noticed a huge difference almost immediately. Because of the issues in our home and the fact that we couldn't run our central A/C all summer, some rooms would get humid and the allergens would really kick up. The Ultrafine 468 helped me with this immediately. I would wake up with asthma, horrible sore throats, and congestion and this went away once I started running my unit. It also helped with air circulation in my stuffy room. Even my cats love it. I'll find them hanging out in my bedroom when the unit is in there, because the air was is so clean. The bad air quality even effects our pets.

The technology of Intellipure units is also really quite amazing. They utilize DFS Technology, which does not emit any ozone, gases, or other harmful byproducts. This short video explains it really well!



A further testament to how well this unit really works, though I wouldn't recommend this at all, is that when we had our remediation done last week, after they fogged our ducts, we ran the unit in my bedroom, to make sure the chemical vapors wouldn't be bad once we turned on the central air. Both fortunately and unfortunately, this worked really well! My room was definitely the least offensive as far as smell and contamination - I'm extremely chemical-sensitive. But the problem was that the unit worked so well sucking up the VOC's coming into the air from our ducts airing out, that it ruined 2 portions of filters - the prefilter and the VOC filter. There's no denying exactly how well the 468 works after this, but it's a bummer that I have to replace those filters. For that reason, I wouldn't recommend using it for things such as airing out a room after painting, laying down new carpet and wanting to minimize off-gassing (at least not immediately following installation), etc. Good old-fashioned open windows is good for that, and your wallet, too!

So as far as pro's to all of the Intellipure units, there's a million! I love mine, would consider getting the smallest one at some point for my sons room, or if I get the extra money, possibly the whole-house unit! I can't recommend it enough and it has absolutely saved me during such an awful time in my life. It makes me feel so much better knowing that it works so well to give myself and my family clean air to breathe. As far as any negatives, the only things that come to mind are cost for some. The units are a little on the high side, as are the replacement filters. But.... In this case, especially after having a bad experience with another fairly high priced purifier, I think you absolutely get what you pay for and I feel that any of the Intellipure models are worth every penny. DFS Technology is pretty amazing and I'm sure it's costly to manufacture units. And the filters don't need to be replaced as often as other units (annually for some and semi-annually for others), so definitely less than other units out there. There are also sensors alerting you when it's time to replace each filter. So no guessing! This can also save some money, as most units require guessing and you're either replacing too early, or running the risk of recirculating contaminants into the air with dirty filters.

If you have any questions on my experience with Intellipure, please let me know! I'm happy to give you honest feedback! And for more technical questions, the company offers amazing customer service - another huge plus!!!

Make sure to stop back soon to check out some more rec's on how I'm continuing to keep my home clean &  mold-free!

ps - this is not a sponsored post. This unit was purchased by me and all opinions are my own.