FTMC Smoking Cessation Program Offers Results

Becky Wineman, 33, of Norwalk, decided she needed to quit smoking. So one day she literally threw her cigarettes out the window and called Fisher-Titus Medical   Center’s Tobacco Treatment Specialist Kim Bailey. Wineman’s greatest motivators for quitting were her two young children, who were just  1 ½ and 3 ½. She was ready to make a change for their sake and she needed Bailey’s help. Wineman enrolled in an eight-week Smoking Cessation program offered at FTMC, which includes both nicotine patches and classes with Bailey. Together Wineman and Bailey devised a plan and set a quit date – July 25. Wineman has not had a cigarette since.

“It was not as hard as I thought it was going to be,” Wineman said.
FTMC will offer its next information sessions for the smoking cessation classes at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26 in FTMC’s auditorium or at noon Monday, Nov. 1 in FTMC’s auditorium. Quit date for participants will be Thursday, Nov. 18, Great American SmokeOut Day. At these sessions, Bailey will talk about the classes, explain how the nicotine patch program works, and enroll people in the class.
Through the use of the nicotine patches and many hints and tricks from Bailey, Wineman was able to change her patterns.
One tip Bailey gave Wineman was finding a healthy habit to replace the smoking. Instead of smoking to relieve stress, Wineman now runs or does yoga.
“I’ve never felt so healthy in my life,” Wineman said.
Another indication of Wineman’s health is her carbon monoxide levels. Bailey did a reading just before she quit smoking and it was 21. Now, after quitting the habit, she is at a 1.
“This is a big motivator for those enrolled in the classes. Those carbon monoxide levels begin to drop drastically less than one week after they quit smoking,” Bailey said.
FTMC’s eight-week smoking cessation program includes a supply of free nicotine patches along with three required sessions with Bailey to monitor carbon monoxide levels and to discuss changing behaviors and managing stress.
“We are exceptionally pleased to be able to offer this Community Outreach program and are thankful that we can help residents like Becky through smoking cessation programming,” Bailey said.
Fisher-Titus Medical Center has been providing quality smoking cessation programs for more than 14 years. In addition, FTMC has been designated an official Ohio Tobacco Quit Site. For more information on any of FTMC’s Smoking Cessation programs, contact 419-663-1975, Ext. 6320, toll-free at 800-589-3862, Ext. 6320 or visit ftmc.com/stopsmoking.