Marie was referred to our service by her GP after experiencing several chest infections and being diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. She was also attending pulmonary rehabilitation, but struggled greatly with her breathing - even walking from reception to the clinic room was difficult.
Marie decided to attend face-to-face appointments at Hemsworth Cedars in Wakefield. Although she was determined to quit smoking, she felt very anxious about stopping, as smoking had become part of her life and the way she coped with difficult situations and life events.
Accessing prescriptions was not always straightforward, which led to a few false starts. However, Marie continued to attend regular appointments for behavioural support and general encouragement throughout her quit journey. During the festive period, receiving a single-use carbon monoxide monitor helped her keep track of her smoking, despite delays in receiving medication.
Throughout the process, Marie’s advisor, Sue, never gave up on her. Sue reassured Marie that she would support her to quit smoking - and she did, despite the challenges with prescriptions.
Marie is now 12 weeks smoke-free. Her breathing has improved, her house smells fresher, and she admits she feels proud of herself. She says quitting has not been easy, but she knows that, in the long term, she is doing the best thing for both her health and her family.
Huge congratulations, Marie! Your stop smoking advisor is incredibly proud of you!
