Steven Slater – I wanted to quit for my wife

Steven Slater has accessed support through the Feel Good Suffolk service.

We recently caught up with Steven to find out his story…

How long had you smoked for?

I had smoked for about 60 years! I started when I was about 8 years old…it was just normal, all the films on a Sunday afternoon showed people at war whilst smoking, they all had cigarettes, so yeah, it was just the norm. My friends were also much older, so I saw them doing it too!

Have you tried to stop smoking before in your life?

Only when I was about 13 years old – I then had one other attempt a little later in life but that was through hypnosis and it only lasted a few weeks.

What inspired you to want to quit before?

Back when I was 13 years old, The Sunday Times used to have a magazine inside, I can see the cover now. It had an image of Hitler leaning up against a tree. I had a cold at the time and as I was looking through that magazine a lump of blood came out of my mouth, and it just so happened that in the Sunday Times magazine, there was an article in there about coughing up blood and the connection it could have with smoking. I thought that was enough. I gave up for a couple of years but then by the time I was old enough, I started going down to the village pub drinking and smoking started again.

Later in life, my motivation to quit was then for my wife. Not because she wanted me to, but I just wanted to do it for her, so I didn’t smell of tobacco and for my health of course.

What inspired you to access the Feel Good Suffolk service for support?

To be honest, at first, I had no real plans to stop although I wanted to, but I was put into hospital. I’d had a fall after trying to carry some heavy carpet, I thought I was fine but a couple of weeks passed and I was wheezing, so my wife insisted I get it checked. I ended up in the hospital as it had caused a bleed and I had fluid on my chest. I got pneumonia, sepsis and delirium so it was all very serious. I ended up being put in the intensive care unit.

To be honest, I don’t remember much of it due to the delirium but after so many days I remember thinking, I don’t know when I’m going to come out, but I thought I’d probably have a cigarette as soon as I get out the door. But as the days wore on, I just thought I couldn’t smoke anymore as the nurses had been so compassionate and dedicated.

I didn’t realise I was already on patches in the hospital but when I did, I decided I would continue with them on my own and then Sylvia (Feel Good Suffolk Advisor) phoned. She supported me to continue with them. After a while I found the patches were irritating me but with support from Sylvia, I switched to a nicotine vape instead which kept me on the right path and I have been smoke-free for around 6 months now.

What benefits have you noticed since you have stopped smoking?

I am less worried. less stressed and my breathing is so much better, and I don’t wheeze anymore!
I’m more comfortable with my wife. I love my wife to bits; she is the best thing that probably ever happened to me. We have been married over 23 years and since quitting I am more comfortable in her company, because I used to go out to smoke, stand outside, come back in and bring that tobacco smell with me. Now I don’t have that. We’ve got a lovely relationship but I’m just more at ease now as I know I don’t smell.

I was spending about £50 per week on cigarettes and although this was never my motivation, I am aware that I am now financially better off for quitting too.

If you want to find out more about support to stop smoking – click the button link below.

Steven Slater – recently stopped smoking after 60 years!