Well done to Shanna, our latest successful quitter!
Shanna started smoking when she was 21 and before she became smoke free she was a heavy smoker, smoking between 50 – 60 cigarettes a day.
Sadly, Shanna’s Nan and Grandfather had their lives cut short due to smoking related illnesses. Convinced that they would still be enjoying life today and for many years to come if they didn’t smoke, Shanna knew it was time to quit smoking to protect her health.
Shanna said: “When my Grandad passed away, I promised him that I would give up smoking. He had bone and lung cancer I believe were caused by smoking. Nan died of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) caused by smoking as well. They were heavy smokers.”
Shanna found out about our stop smoking support services through her doctor. She called our friendly wellbeing team who put her in contact with Amy, one of our expert health improvement practitioners. This phone call went on to change her life forever.
Being a heavy smoker, Shanna never thought she could ever give up smoking until she tried vaping. To get her started, Amy sent Shanna a free vaping kit with 5 weeks supply of vaping fluid. For Shanna, vaping provided her with a meaningful exchange to smoking and it was a success story all the way: “When you could buy them, I’d get the menthol cigarettes and found that the menthol vaping fluid tasted just the same. When I feel stressed, I would normally have a cigarette, but I vape instead, and it feels the same. If I was still smoking, I would smoke cigarette after cigarette but with the vape I only vape when I need to and it’s the only thing that’s helped me. Now I’ve quit, I hate the smell of cigarettes, it makes me urge. My menthol vape smells so much nicer. I never thought I could ever quit until I tried vaping.”
Being asthmatic, Shanna found that quitting smoking made living with asthma much easier: “My asthma symptoms were so much worse when I was smoking. I would get out of breath really easily and I would be wheezy every morning and every evening. Since quitting, I can breathe so much easier.”
Furthermore, as Shanna suffers from type 2 diabetes, quitting has been especially important for managing her diabetic symptoms: “Smoking was making my blood sugar levels really high.” Now smoke free, her diabetes is easier to manage with better control over her blood sugar levels.
Now smoke free, along with enjoying better health, Shanna is also enjoying better wealth! “I was spending £100 a week on tobacco. Now with the money I’ve saved by not smoking, I can treat myself more. I can also afford to treat my partner to clothes and gifts. Even after that, there’s still money left over!”
Shanna has discovered that being free is a wonderful thing. Now free from the fog and the nightmare of addiction, she finds she can indulge in the things she really likes to do: “Smoking completely took over my life, so much so that I didn’t have time to enjoy my hobbies. I love colouring books, and I like to spend a lot of time doing them. Now I’m not smoking, I can afford to buy more colouring books and spend much more time enjoying them.”
Amy said: “I’m really pleased to see how much Shanna has gained from quitting smoking. It’s fantastic that she’s experienced improvements in her diabetes management, breathing, and overall health. It was a pleasure working with Shanna, and I wish her all the very best for the future.”