Stoptober case studies

Jenni started smoking as teenager for the same reason that most kids of that age do; because her friends were all smoking but, as Jenni recalls “it got to the stage where I was smoking anywhere between 10 to 15 cigarettes a day”. 13 years later, Jenni finally took the decision to quit.

Her decision was influenced by two factors. The first being the need to have a minor operation which they couldn’t do while she was still smoking “I needed to stop to give my body the best possible chance to heal”. Undoubtedly the most compelling reason of all was her son “he’d reached an age where he understood that smoking was bad for your health and he kept asking me to stop.”

Jenni used Champix to help her stop and she made a conscious effort to change some of her deep rooted habits “I was so used to waking up each morning and enjoying a coffee with a fag.” To help support her, Jenni used the NHS stop smoking app, she also received weekly support from the Occupational Health team where she works at University Hospital Southampton, which was crucial in keeping her on track.

When asked what Jenni would say to anyone considering quitting, she said “I’d say definitely go for it. You need to be mentally ready to quit and make sure you use all of the support that’s available to you. It makes such a difference in achieving success. I feel so much healthier now that I’ve quit and the time I used to spend outside smoking, I now get to spend with my family.”

Dawn was in her early twenties when she began smoking, now 51 she recalls what led her to smoke her first cigarette “I originally started to smoke because it was the fashion at the time and both my parents were smokers too. I smoked between 15 and 20 per day.”

It was the arrival of Dawn’s first grandchild that was the catalyst for her decision to quit but, like many people, she also wanted to be healthier.

“I managed to quit using the patches, making sure I completed the course. It wasn’t easy but I think the hardest thing was knowing what to do with my hands, I’d become so used to having a cigarette in them. It was also difficult to change my routines so that they no longer included a fag.”

Dawn’s granddaughter and family provided all the motivation she needed to keep going “I also saw Abbi from our Occupational Health department at the hospital where I work. Her support really helped me to give up properly.”

To anyone considering quitting, Dawn’s advice is “plan it properly and have a support network in place around you. It's not easy but it does get easier. I have been a non-smoker now for nearly 10 months and I feel fantastic.”

“I’m 49 years young and have been a smoker for over 30 years”. Like most other people Amanda just wanted to be like her friends, and they were all smoking so she followed in their footsteps.

When asked why 2020 was the year Amanda decided to quit she remarked “knowing the big 50 was looming and that smokers were a group particularly effected by COVID-19, I realised now was the time”. Amanda likes to entertain and recalled that they were the moments she found the most difficult to stay motivated as that would be the time she would smoke socially.

“I’ve actually got quite good willpower when I need to have, so that really helped me stay on track. I also received a lot of support from my daughter, as well as Abbi in the Occupational Health team where I work, and my work colleagues. It really made a huge difference.”

Quitting has had a really positive impact on Amanda. Her breathing has improved, she doesn’t cough anymore, and she feels so much healthier. “The other benefit is that I have money left at the end of each month which I didn’t have before.”

“It can be done so I’d say to anyone who is thinking about giving up, just do it.”