How It Started

I started smoking around the age of 20 while in college because those in my social group all smoked. I had a lot of late nights and was also working at a restaurant at the time. Everyone in the restaurant smoked, so it just seemed natural.

I went on to smoke for 30 years.

Pressure to Stop

I currently work in the health care industry, and I know better, meaning I know what the risks are and what the risk involvement was the entire time I smoked. I needed to stop, but I enjoyed it. I tried a couple of times to quit, and I just kept pushing it down the road. When I turned 50, I made myself a promise that I would stop.

Of course, I also had family members encouraging me to stop. My father was a former smoker. He would remind me regularly that I needed to stop.

The first time I tried to stop was in my 30s right after I got married. I tried using medication, but I did not tolerate it well, so I attempted to titrate it to fit my needs. Ultimately, it didn’t work. In my 40s, my doctor prescribed a medication. Once again, I did not tolerate it well. I tried to adjust the dose, and again, I was not successful.

However, I initiated personal behavioral modifications that while not eliminating smoking, they did help me pair down. I stopped smoking in the morning with my cup of coffee. I stopped smoking during the day because in my professional life, it was socially unacceptable. The behavioral modifications helped, but I did not stop. I did not have accountability regarding my progress. When I tried to stop, I didn’t share it with anyone. I was doing it on my own. That created a hurdle.

An Introduction to Quit With WakeMed

Fast forward to my annual physical with WakeMed Primary Care provider, Susheel Atree, MD, FACP, where he said, “Eric, you gotta stop smoking. I’ve been telling you this for 15 years. WakeMed has a smoking cessation program. Can I get you signed up?”

I agreed, and I had my first visit with Stacy Thiedeman, PA-C, in April 2021. I had my last visit with her in November 2022, making it about 18 months of communication. We devised a game plan, employing her consultative approach. She listened to my story to better understand. She provided her observations and made suggestions.

I set my quit date for June 2022. The idea was to surprise my wife, whose birthday was in June. This gave me motivation to take it very seriously.

The Approach

Thiedeman and I made modifications to my habit using a smoking cessation medication. She also suggested a combination therapy with a nicotine replacement gum. We then added a mood-boosting smoking cessation aid to help with stress, which was my prime trigger for smoking.

This trio was the mechanism by which I found success.

The day I told my wife was very memorable. I recall her saying, “I knew something was up.” She and our two children were very happy. It was a proud day.

Better Health and Vitality

Now that I no longer smoke, I don’t have a post nasal drip that I’d previously associated with allergies. Additionally, I no longer have a constant dry cough. I can also take deeper breaths and don’t feel winded when running or enjoying other exercise.

The biggest boost, however, is the psychological component. I feel more positive and more confident in myself. It is a huge milestone to break a 30-year-old habit. I sometimes pat myself on the back because I feel I’m a better person.

Reflections on Working with Thiedeman

Thiedeman was the right provider for me because she was nonjudgmental. She let me go at my own pace and draw my own conclusions with her guidance. Two key points in my success were her efforts to gain my buy-in along with regular check-ins regarding my progress. Furthermore, she stuck with me well beyond the point that I quit. Having checkpoints was very good.

A Better Life Today

I enjoy running, cooking, traveling and eating in various restaurants. Taking constant smoke breaks during these activities made each activity take longer. I lost a lot of time smoking. I also had the hassle of finding a way to smoke when taking trips via plane or car. Plus, with the social stigma, I always wanted to find a private place to smoke. Since I stopped, my quality of life has improved. I’ve gained more time, and I no longer need to leave family and friends during gatherings. No one I know smokes, so I’m now among the “norm” in my circle. I’m glad I was able to Quit With WakeMed.

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About Quit With WakeMed — Tobacco Cessation Program

Quit with WakeMed