I actually stopped smoking for 16 years back in 2003, when my eldest son was born, but then the pandemic hit, and it got me started again due to lockdown. I was in the house all alone, no one else was around, and it was down to boredom to be honest. All my friends smoked, and I started up again.
I initially just started smoking when I was home, and when I went out socially on a weekend, before things started to pick back up again, but then I got more hooked and suddenly I was smoking 20-30 cigarettes a day.
I saw the onsite clinic at Siemens, and it was always being advertised by Coyle Health and Wellbeing on the digital screens too. I was talking to my colleague Mike Batty, who had just used the clinic, whilst on a training course back in February, and he was telling me about his story, about his mum, and I thought I should give it a go too.
My partner has always been saying I should quit, it’s not great from her perspective, smelling of smoke, and I’ve got 4 kids altogether as well, so I wanted to do it for them, and for my own health too.
Then finally, I was walking back from the pub, I just ditched the cigarettes in the bin. That was 59 days ago now! I have already noticed the different in my health, as I’m asthmatic and I was going through an inhaler often. But I don’t even need my inhaler anymore, my lungs have cleared and I’m breathing a lot easier. It’s all been so positive to be honest.
I used Zyban to quit, as I’ve used this prescription medication before, and I knew it worked for me. I spoke with SmokeFree Hull Advisor Chelsea, about all the other options, patches and the vape etc, but I knew I could do it on the tablets. Chelsea helped me get this from my doctors, who were a little funny about giving them to me, but she worked it out, without her support I think I wouldn’t have bothered.
However, then I set a quit date and then from that point on, I knew that I was on the right path – I knew I could do it! Once you make that decision, it sort of draws a line in the sand for you.
It is a mental battle though, as I was out with some friends, who all smoke, and it’s still in the back of my mind to want a cigarette. I know I’ve got another month to finish the course though. At the end of the day it’s an addiction, it’s very difficult and a large proportion of it comes from you and your own willpower.
My partner, colleagues and friends have all been so supportive of me quitting though, they don’t pester me when I go out, which is really helpful. Siemens have been good too, letting me go to the clinic and I really like the structured appointments. I know I’m going there with a view to stop smoking and I find getting my CO reading done helps too to stay motivated. Even when I’ve not been at work, I’ve had telephone appointments, so it’s a really thorough process.
I’ve probably saved about £850 so far, but I’ve already spent it, on trips to York, food and other things, but I haven’t really noticed. I’ve more noticed the general health stuff like my sense of smell and taste have improved, as when I was smoking, I didn’t notice the smell, but now I can smell it on others. I think back to what my partner must have smelt on me, so it’s all a different perspective now. I can really saviour the flavours in food, it doesn’t taste bland anymore. I’m also not coughing my guts up every morning either - I’m so much healthier.
What I would say is, from a lifestyle and health perceptive, stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do. If you have the right level of support, you can do it, mixed with your own willpower.
Anyone can do it, but you need to do it for yourself too. If someone else tells you, you switch off, and naturally go against what they’re saying, you need to figure it out for yourself.
I would definitely recommend the clinic and the service, it’s valuable support, and Chelsea will go through all the process, why you want to quit, motivations, and the practical advice. It was very good and cemented in my mind what I wanted to do, Chelsea then showed me how to do it. She was very supportive of my own choice, with getting Zyban, and my own journey.
Sometimes you only have a bit of the map, and some parts are missing, but Chelsea then filled in the gaps. I really enjoyed the weekly 1-2-1 chats as well, as I needed that structure initially as the first few weeks were the hardest.
I can’t fault the service, I’m another success story that it does work. If the posters hadn’t been up at work the chances are I’d still be smoking. Those messages were key, and talking to Mike as it was a personal touch, made all the difference.