I was 15 when I first started smoking and I smoked for 50 years. I started smoking at school, all my friends and my parents smoked as well.
I would smoke between 26 and 30 cigarettes a day, I quit for health reasons, I was diagnosed with COPD 5 years ago.
I accessed the service via the telephone support, it's a 10/10 service!
I started my quit with a 16 hour patch but I had to switch to a 24 hour patch as I was struggling with cravings in a morning as I found it very hard to concentrate on anything as I was thinking about smoking,
The 24 hour patches were definitely better for me but did cause some very strange dreams.
No one in my family smokes which helps, I also smoked in my kitchen and found I could smell it though out my house which was very unpleasant, it made me very self conscious and now I like that I don't smell it all the time on myself and in the house.
My health has improved a hell of a lot, even walking upstairs is different now.
I have gone back to swimming which I really enjoy and I do this a few times a week, I am also walking a lot more!
I love the freedom of not smoking, I did not realise I was chained to it, I would never my in law family due to feeling the need to rush and come away so I could smoke. A few weeks ago I enjoyed my first visit with them in around 8 years and it was lovely! I can now also enjoy taking my grandchildren on outings!
I am not sure how much money I have saved as money was never a reason that I quit, I have spent some money on small things for myself and I have also joined Slimming World as the last time I stopped smoking I did gain a little weight so I am hoping this time I won't.
If I could go back in time to my younger self I would say, Please don't do it. Come out of the fog and into the fresh air
