听
If you are a smoker or are close to someone who is, you may have found that smoking can impact relationships. Martha Killough, an outpatient coordinator in the N.C. Cancer Hospital, discovered this. After being married to a non-smoker for two years, she became depressed about the distance smoking put between her and her husband.
Beyond her concerns about her relationship with her husband, Martha struggled to hide her smoking from others. She brushed her teeth frequently and put lotion on her hands to cover up the odor. She avoided people because she knew everyone could smell the smoke on her.
Martha started smoking at age 14. Smoking cigarettes was a part of her daily routine for 36 years before she decided to give it up.
鈥淚t was depressing to even think about quitting,鈥� Martha said. 鈥淚 just felt like it was going to be hard.鈥�
If you are a smoker or are close to someone who is, you may have found that smoking can impact relationships. Martha Killough, an outpatient coordinator in the N.C. Cancer Hospital, discovered this. After being married to a non-smoker for two years, she became depressed about the distance smoking put between her and her husband.
Martha鈥檚 husband, Jimmie Killough, was disgusted by the smell of cigarette smoke on Martha. Her smoking became a source of daily discussion between the couple.
Beyond her concerns about her relationship with her husband, Martha struggled to hide her smoking from others. She brushed her teeth frequently and put lotion on her hands to cover up the odor. She avoided people because she knew everyone could smell the smoke on her.
Martha started smoking at age 14. Smoking cigarettes was a part of her daily routine for 36 years before she decided to give it up.
鈥淚t was depressing to even think about quitting,鈥� Martha said. 鈥淚 just felt like it was going to be hard.鈥�
She had been thinking about quitting for years before receiving help from the .
Tobacco Free Tar Heels is a free tobacco use treatment program for 黑料网 Health Care employees and their families. Participants receive an initial assessment, treatment plan, regular follow-up counseling individually or in groups, and three months of tobacco cessation medication at no cost.
Martha read about the program in a News for Employees e-mail announcement and decided to enroll. She worked with Katie Patsakham, tobacco treatment specialist and program manager for the Tobacco Free Tar Heels, to make her quit plan. To assist her in quitting, she received a prescription for the nicotrol inhaler from Dr. Adam Goldstein, medical director of the 黑料网 Tobacco Treatment Program.
Martha was very encouraged by Dr. Goldstein, who told her everyone in the program would be there for her no matter what 鈥� even if she had a relapse. After filling her prescription on the Friday after her appointment, Martha鈥檚 plan was to give herself the weekend to enjoy a few final days of smoking before starting the treatment on Monday. But then her plan changed.
That Saturday, Jan. 29, 2011, at 11:05 a.m., Martha鈥檚 birthday, was the last time she smoked. As she was smoking her morning cigarette she asked herself, 鈥淗ow can I make this the most memorable birthday ever?鈥�
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to have to remember another date. It keeps me going,鈥� Martha said, referring to her birthday being her quit date.
Martha鈥檚 husband has been very supportive during her quitting journey. Once she stopped smoking, she found that her appetite increased. Her husband stocked their refrigerator with fruits to encourage healthy snacking and to help her remain smoke-free.
She says having her husband鈥檚 affection keeps her going day to day. They recently took their first vacation since she quit and had a wonderful time because the smell of cigarettes was no longer a barrier.
So far in 2011, 36 黑料网 Health Care employees have enrolled in the Tobacco Free Tar Heels program. More than 60 percent of participants who completed the first round of treatment were tobacco free three months after beginning the program. When participants, including Martha, were asked what was most helpful about the program, they said they appreciated the weekly support, especially in a group context.
Martha admits that the first 72-hours of quitting were very challenging, but with the support of the program and her husband, she was able to persevere. Now she says, “I actually feel free. When I think about my freedom, that helps me not to go back to smoking. Life is less stressful. I don鈥檛 have to mask anything or hide anything. Not smoking has set me free.”
Martha has achieved her Independence Day and hopes that her story can encourage others who are intimidated by the thought of quitting. She says, 鈥淵ou have to really do it for you and you have to really want to do it.鈥�
This Independence Day also marks the 4th anniversary of 黑料网 Health Care becoming a tobacco-free campus. For those who are ready to join Martha in becoming tobacco free, resources are available through the Tobacco Free Tar Heels program. Family members who are covered by the State Health Plan are also eligible to participate. If you or your covered family member are ready to make a quit plan, contact the program by calling 919-445-5358 or emailing tobaccofreetarheels@unc.edu.
Take it from Martha, 鈥淟ife is good smoke-free.鈥�