A Wigan mum who believes her smoking habit left her in a coma for a month has spoken out about her ordeal.
Lisa Fildes started smoking when she was just 10-years-old.
The 49-year-old was soon getting through 20 cigarettes a day and used it as a coping mechanism for stress.
But two years ago, her world turned upside down when she suffered a heart attack, stroke, multiple-organ failure and sepsis – leaving her in a coma for four and a half weeks.
Lisa, from Hindley, was at home when she fell ill in June 2018 surrounded by her children.
Her frantic son alerted her husband who desperately tried to perform CPR until paramedics arrived at their home.
Lisa was rushed to hospital where she spent weeks in a coma and almost died.
The traumatic ordeal gave her the shock she needed to quit smoking for good and managed to stay away from cigarettes until December 2019.
But she had a few puffs of a cigarette and relapsed.
“My children and family hated that I’d started smoking again, but it was such a powerful addiction,” she said.
“During the start of the pandemic, I had to shield due to my health condition and was smoking more at home. It was a high stress environment, but I had developed a nasty chest infection I couldn’t shift so I knew I had to do something.
“I contacted my stop smoking service and my advisor helped me to make a plan, and we discussed different ways to quit.
“My advisor was fab; she would ring me every week to make sure I was okay and was there any time I needed advice or just to let off some steam.
“I tried lots of different things, such as patches and gum, but due to my existing health condition they affected my blood sugar levels. I was determined to give up so in the end I found vaping worked best for me.”
Lisa said her desire to stay out of hospital is what motivates her to stay away from cigarettes.
Although she still struggles to breathe, she can now taste and smell again and is back at work.
She continued: “It absolutely breaks my heart knowing that smoking probably caused the heart attack.
“But when you start smoking, you don’t realise how strong that addiction is. I am just so grateful now for every single day with my family.
“My message to anyone who smokes is please don’t wait – give quitting a go now. If I can do it, then anyone can do it.
“Don't waste all that time getting ill, wasting your money, taking a possible life away from your children or your family. It’s just not worth it.”
Lisa has joined forces with other ex-smokers and NHS doctors in Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership’s New Year quit campaign.
The Don’t Wait campaign launches on December 28 ahead of the New Year, when many people are thinking about quitting smoking and making resolutions to improve their health.
Dr Tom Tasker, GP and interim chair of the Greater Manchester Medical Executive, said: “2020 has been an incredibly challenging year for everyone, but it has been inspiring to see that many smokers have taken action to improve their health, finances and quit for their loved ones.
“The campaign highlights some of the amazing individuals who have bravely shared their stories, in the hope that others don’t have to experience the suffering they have been through.
“Our message to people this New Year is not to give up on quitting, or themselves. We know that it can take a few attempts to stop smoking for good, but the benefits start from the moment you stop, so please give it a go. It is the best New Year’s resolution you can give yourself – put the past year behind you and make a positive start to 2021.”
