Having surgery on right elbow,how will i put mask on?

At end of this month I will be having surgery on my right elbow so I won't be able to bend my arm for about 2 1/2 weeks. So my dilemma is how to get mask on & off; I do have a Forma FF Mask Fisher and Paykal that has the clip underneath that you can pull down, however, it does leak quite a bit. Recently got trial for Swift LT Nasal Pillow mask for her but looking at directions you need both hands. Does anyone have ideas for what type of mask to use while I will be one handed [of note I am right-handed]? I also have FF Quattro mask which has clips as well. I need to start experimenting to see how it will be to use only my left hand. You don't realize how much you use both hands until you can't use one for awhile. I really want to keep using my CPAP since I know i feel so much better when I use it everyday and many of you know CPAP therapy has not been an easy road for me, I've had many issues but I have hung in there and refused to give up. I appreciate any comments, suggestions you all might have to make this upcoming event in my life a little bit better.

Catatrina

Respironics OptiLife can be put on with one hand.

The Headrest can be put on like a hat too.

Read my post here - viewtopic/t43133/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=43 ... 84#p381784

I use the Swift LT for Her. I am right handed. I can put it on with my left hand only. Nothing to hook or unhook once you get it adjusted to your head. I just now tried it with my left hand. It was only a bit awkward but I can see where it wouldn't take much time to become adept at doing it. The head gear has just enough give in it to allow stretching over my head and positioning of the straps.
Good luck with your surgery.
Brenda

Another vote for the Headrest.
Start training now - on whichever mask you buy.
Good luck with your surgery.

Oh, wait -- can you breath through your nose?

O.

Since I am not use to wearing nasal pillow type mask on a daily basis, will it be tough for me to get use to? I was recently given the Swift LT for her but I haven't opened package
from DME, they actually want $200 more than what it cost from cpap.com and besides my insurance only pays for 2 masks in 1 year if that, I recently in 2/09 got the Forma FF mask as I said previously it has it share of leaks and I actually have gone back to wearing Quattro FF mask which amazingly is quieter and less leak. Wearing FF mask is a bit of problem, I would like the freedom of either Optilife as you suggested or Swift LT for her. I am not looking forward to surgery but I have to make some plans especially when it comes to CPAP therapy. However, my present sleep medicine doc did in May 09 a 2nd sleep study w/titration and found actually that I have most apnea events in supine position and when pressure is higher more leaks of course, but when I slept on my side i had less than 4 hypoapnea events and I actually had some REM sleep where the 1st study in 7/08 i had no REM sleep so that was interesting to me. They know I am scheduled to have surgery at the end of this month and will attempt to work with me but offered that if I could stay on my side when I sleep that would be okay until I have more flexibility post - surgery. I am curious have you tried putting on OptiLife with the opposite hand you normally use?

Catatrina

Muse-Inc wrote:Respironics OptiLife can be put on with one hand.

I came home from the titration study with the Optilife mask. I changed to the Swift LT for Her because the Optilife head gear was just a bit large for my head. The chin strap that comes with it would end up not fitting properly. I did like the pillows though. I just didn't care for the head gear. I like the Swift LT for Her much better.
I just now tried the Optilife with my left hand only. It can be done and with a bit of practice probably fairly easily too. It stretches a bit more than the Swift head gear. The chin strap adjustment might be a problem if you didn't get it perfect before the surgery. When I was using it and trying to get the chin strap to suit me it often slid out of the little guides and was PITA to get put back in and re-adjusted. That part of it would be hard to do with one hand.

The key to either one would be have it perfect before surgery. I never mess with my headgear now when I put the Swift LT on. I just stretch it over my head and stick the pillows in.

Catatrina wrote:...have you tried putting on OptiLife with the opposite hand you normally use?

Yup, this is an easy mask to put on and pull off -- no clips! The straps are very slightly stretchy; it allows me to put the back head strap on the back of my head and then pull the rest over the front of my face, position the nasal pillows and then pull the chin support under my chin. Then, I straighten the straps in case they twisted while I pulled the mask over my face.

I don't open the Velcro straps except to wash the headgear. I have marks (permanent Sharpie) on all three straps so I know exactly where to re-attach the straps when the headgear is dry -- no fiddling.

To remove, I pull the chin support to the front of my chin, pull the nasal pillow 'support' away from my nose which remove the pillows from my nostrils, and pull the mask up over my head.

The only challenge you might have is removing the silicon pillows. If you can hold the mask between your body and your right forearm, you'll be able to peel the pillow from the mask to wash the pillow. With a bit of practice before surgery, I think this would be easy to do. Doesn't require strength, just a bit of patience to get the knack. These pillows sorta peel off the pillow support. If you look at the mask closely, you'll see what I mean.

I'm a side sleeper since CPAP, but I think this mask would work on your back too because I woke up on my back several times until I trained myself not to sleep on my back.

Good Luck!

Catatrina, I'll admit I haven't tried a direct comparison, but it just seems to me that all things considered, your Quatro would be the easiest mask to manage with one hand. With a nasal mask, you should be attending to mouth leaking/breathing. This means possible need for taping, which I believe would be a royal pain to accomplish well with one hand. I have a backup FFM, and leave 3 of the 4 straps connected and properly adjusted. It's pretty easy to pull the headgear on like a hat, and to use one hand to anchor the mask in place on your face while grabbing the last strap and clipping it into its slot. No worries about mouth breathing ruining your therapy. Cleaning can be easily done with a wipe. (I am procrastinating on needed hand surgery, so I've been practicing certain tasks one-handedly).

i can do an f&p 431 ff with one hand.

whatever you decide have someone wrap your hand up and practice before you HAVE to do it.

I have a quattro and my right hand is in a cast. I can't move my fingers enough to help put my mask on. I now unclip the left clip and pull the mask off doing the reverse to put it on. It takes a few seconds longer and little contortion to move my left arm to adjust everything but it can be done.

You can do it, it may just take a little longer and take some getting used to. Try putting it on and taking it off with your left hand now so you figure it out and get used to it.