"I am so proud of myself and my husband. I still can’t believe we’ve both managed to quit smoking!
We went on holiday in April and bought 600 cigarettes. I hate to admit it, but we smoked them all. When we got home, my breathing was terrible, and I knew I had to make a change for my health. My sister recommended Smokefree Sheffield after successfully quitting herself, and I’m so glad she did. I honestly don’t know where I’d be now if I hadn’t taken that first step.
Through the Swap to Stop scheme, I was provided with a vape, which was a huge help. Over the 12 weeks, I gradually reduced the strength of the liquids, and that worked really well for me. The staff at Mirage were fantastic. My advisor, Jill, called me every other week, and I always looked forward to those conversations. Her support, encouragement, and understanding made a real difference to my journey, and I’m incredibly grateful to her.
Since stopping smoking, we’ve been on holiday with our daughter and two grandsons, and not once were we tempted to smoke. We couldn’t believe it. Even when we were around other smokers, it didn’t bother us at all.
I’ve also noticed how much more aware I am of the smell of cigarettes now. Although we never smoked inside the house, our home feels so much cleaner because we’re no longer bringing the smell in on our clothes.
The financial savings have been amazing too. We used to spend around £98 every five days on rolling tobacco, so over the last six months we’ve saved an unbelievable amount of money. I’ve even treated myself to a new pair of shoes!
The biggest difference, though, has been my health. My doctor can’t believe how much my breathing has improved, and she is very impressed with my latest breath test results. I’ve also noticed that everyday activities, especially walking, are much easier now.
I am so grateful to Jill and everyone at Smokefree Sheffield for all the support they have given us.
My advice to anyone thinking about quitting is simple: just do it. You’ll never look back".
Congratulations on your quit, Jill and thanks for sharing your story with us.
