*This client wishes to remain anonymous
I started socially smoking as a youngster and fully embraced the habit at 18-years-old.
My mother hated it. She would hunt through my room to find the smokes and throw them away, but I would always find a way to get more.
I was smoking tailor-mades, maybe 5 or 6 a day, before my habit increased to a packet a day. I have stopped smoking in the past but each time it would lead to depression, so I would start again.
Then, a few years ago, I noticed my toes were getting sore. It continued to get worse to the point my toes were so swollen they were rubbing the skin off in the middle and they started turning black.
I had googled and I had a fair idea of what it was. I had gangrene. I knew this was because of smoking.
For an entire month I barely slept while I tried to get the pain under control. The pain was excruciating.
The doctors said I had lost the pulse in my feet, and smoking had also caused narrowed arteries in my groin. I ended up in Dunedin Hospital for a five-day iloprost infusion, six hours a day, to enlarge the veins and arteries to create better blood flow. That was the beginning of my healing journey, and while there, the hospital referred me to the Southern Stop Smoking Service.
I knew if I didn’t stop smoking I was going to lose my foot, so at that point, I had no choice.
The coach come to visit me in my home and she has been absolutely brilliant. She has made some helpful suggestions, given me the tools I need to reduce my smoking, and she gave me patches and lozenges, and showed me how to use them.
The coach helped me to install a reward system. Now instead of rewarding myself with a cigarette, I reward myself with things I enjoy such as knitting and crochet. She is encouraging, positive, and has helped me to cut right down from seven packets a week to just one. The goal is to stop completely and I know with the support of the coach, I can do it.
Cutting down has made a huge difference in my life. I am saving lots of money and my health is improving.
Smoking made everything difficult and would always come before my bills. I got behind on a lot of things and had to go to a budgeting service. Now, I can go to Spotlight and buy wool, I can buy treats for my kids and grandkids, and I can afford to have my lawns mowed for me, which is something I cannot do myself and couldn’t afford before. I can eat healthier and I can concentrate on my craft. My asthma and hay fever also aren’t playing up as much now.
I have also been referred to the Crisis Advocacy service at Tūmanako Oranga Wellness Centre, where the kaimahi has supported me to set goals and get back out in the community. With her help, I am now back at a crafting class! She is getting me back on track with my life.
The gangrene has fallen off now and there is healthy tissue underneath the affected toes. They have all healed except one. It is still painful but it is slowly healing because I have cut down so much on my smoking.
I’m looking forward to the day I can wear shoes again!
What is Gangrene? Gangrene is a dangerous and potentially deadly health problem. It happens when the blood flow to an area of tissue is cut off. This causes the tissue to break down and die. Gangrene often turns the affected skin a greenish-black colour. People who smoke have a higher risk of gangrene.
