Brian had quit smoking before, but after going through a challenging life event, he found himself reaching for the cigarettes again. Despite knowing the damage it could do, the stress became overwhelming, and smoking felt like a familiar coping mechanism.
However, after undergoing gallbladder surgery, Brian realised just how much smoking was affecting his recovery. His persistent smokers cough was making everything worse, leaving him short of breath and struggling to heal properly. Determined to break the cycle for good, he reached out to his local Stop Smoking Team in Wakefield, where he had weekly telephone appointments with his advisor, Julia. Brian had heard about a drug called Varenicline, which some of his friends had been successful quitting with, so after a discussion with Julia, he decided to give it a go. He soon discovered how Varenicline manages the cravings, making the quitting process more manageable.
One of Brian's first victories came when he walked his usual mile and a quarter to his allotment without getting out of breath, something that would have been unthinkable just weeks before. His smoker’s cough, once a constant irritation quickly disappeared. What surprised Brian most was the return of his sense of smell. He could now enjoy the familiar scent of his favourite aftershave, Brut, something he hadn’t noticed in years. He even found himself picking up the fragrance of other people’s perfumes when he was on the bus.
Well done Brian! You've come so far and your advisors in Wakefield are incredibly proud of you. Keep up the good work!
