Smokefree Bolton

How long have you smoked?

Before I quit this time, I had been smoking 20 a day for the last 20 years.

I was at the point in my life where I was terrified to keep smoking, but I was also terrified to give up. But I just knew I couldn’t keep smoking.

Why did you decide to quit?

I was having bad chest infections, constant coughing and feeling unwell almost all the time. My illnesses lasted longer, and I’d need to take higher levels of medication. I didn’t realise how bad it had got, I’d be breathless going upstairs, I was stopping half way up and then I would lie on the bed to recover. It was a gradual thing that crept up over time. Soon after that I was diagnosed with emphysema. Knowing how damaging smoking had been to my health I just said, “I know what I've got to do!”- it was my decision to quit smoking for my future health.

Where did you seek support to quit?

I went to a local pharmacy and spoke to a really helpful member of staff who explained all my options and supported me to make a quit date.

I started on Nicotine replacement therapy patches, as well as a nicotine inhalator.

How was your first day smokefree?

I was really prepared for the day. I knew I would normally have a brew and a cigarette when I woke up – this was my ritual. So, this time I sat at the table with my nicotine patch on with my cup of coffee thinking, “This is it – this is the start!”. When I got through the first day without a cigarette, I just couldn’t believe I had done it!

How do you battle withdrawals and cravings?

I knew my smoking triggers – first thing in the morning, after meals, out socialising. For the first few weeks I did cancel a few social events so I could avoid temptation. When I could prove to myself I could have a drink and not smoke I knew it was going well. I knew when I got stressed I’d reach for a cigarette – wrongly thinking this was making me feel better – so I had to recognise my stress levels rising and find alternate ways to cope.

Have you had any support you found helpful?

Going to the pharmacy and doing the CO monitoring breath test helped keep me on track and accountable. If I’d have smoked it would have shown up – but each clear test I passed made me feel really proud of myself!

I also found the NHS Quit Smoking app really helpful; telling me how much I’d saved so far, and how many days smokefree I’d achieved. It also told me how I was improving physically too – showing the benefits for each day, week and month that I’d gone smokefree. It really is lifechanging for my body – this has been really motivating!

What positive changes have you found from quitting?

I used to be outside in the winter, it could be snowing, raining, freezing cold – and I’d be out huddled under an umbrella having my cigarette – and now I'm thinking, “You idiot!” - it wasn’t an enjoyable experience! - Now I don’t have to live like that.

I've got a great sense of achievement, the medication I've been prescribed to help my breathing has now reduced! My breathing has improved and I'm able to go about my day to day life with less difficulties. Financially I'm so much better off too!

How do you feel about yourself now?

Overall, I just feel so much better! I'm no longer on any nicotine replacement therapy and I'm finally free from being addicted to cigarettes! I really hope my story can help someone else to give up! It’s never too late to quit smoking – if I can do it so can you! x