June stopped smoking with the support of Yorkshire Smokefree in Wakefield. Here is her story:
"My name is June. I am 65 years old and I started smoking at the age of 11. I wanted to stop smoking for health reasons. I have lived with COPD for many years which has affected my breathing. I also suffer with muscular spasms near my heart which have recently got worse. This lifelong addiction to smoking eventually took its toll on me!
I had fortnightly sessions face to face with my advisor Marie at Pontefract Health Centre who gave me all the support and encouragement I needed to make me feel I could do this!
The treatment helped me to manage the withdrawal symptoms; I was prescribed nicotine patches and an inhalator which helped reduce the cravings and making quitting more manageable. I particularly enjoyed the carbon monoxide readings as this gave me proof of my progress.
I have done extremely well. Started at 21mg patches and now at 8 weeks quit have reduced to 7mg and some days I do not use a patch at all.
I feel more like my old self now have more energy, feel less breathless and my skin feels fresher. My sense of taste and smell has returned, and I am eating much better now.
With the money that I have saved I have treated myself to a karaoke machine. I live in independent living and have many friends; we all like to have a good sing and dance. My favourite music is 60s and 70s!
I did not believe for a second, I could quit smoking and have tried so many times before, I could not have done this without the help of the service, and I can promise I will never touch another cigarette!
June, you are an inspiration! Congratulations on your quit and keep on enjoying life - we might pop along for a sing-snog with you on the karaoke machine!
