One Handed

[ElizabethDiane]

I wear a full face mask. I am having surgery in a few weeks and my arm will be immobile for 8 weeks. No matter what I try I cannot get my mask on with one hand. I live alone so I need to figure this out. Any suggestions?

[Sheriff Buford]

What about a husband? I'm thinking that with practice (before-hand), I could learn to one-hand my mask.

Sheriff

[Julie]

Have you asked your MD or hosp. about a quick home care visit nightly - you can't be the only patient with similar challenges who's needed help. People will suggest sleeping in a recliner (no Cpap) etc, but 8 wks is a long time and I don't think that's good enough.

[Gryphon]

what kind of mask? I've been able to put my quattro on one handed for years now - left hand that is. Wife was sleeping on top of my right arm and I didn't want to wake her. I could try and work out the steps as I don't stop and think about it much when I'm doing it. I just know it can be done.

[Sonnyboy]

Julie has a great idea but possibly your insurance will not cover this type of home care visit and if so consider hiring a neighbor to quickly come over and help you put on your mask.

[Sheriff Buford]

what kind of mask? I've been able to put my quattro on one handed for years now - left hand that is. Wife was sleeping on top of my right arm and I didn't want to wake her. I could try and work out the steps as I don't stop and think about it much when I'm doing it. I just know it can be done.

I woulda' cut my arm off...or knawd it off!

Sheriff

[Violet West]

would a different mask be easier?

I'm also wondering if a "third hand" type extension would work; like a stick with a clip on it.

[kteague]

Will you be working with a physical or occupational therapist? They can be very helpful at finding ways to accomplish goals even with limitations. Just thinking things through, seems to me one challenge is keeping the mask in place while getting the headgear on. Maybe doing it while lying on your back would help with that. Or in some way bracing the the mask while placing the headgear. (Although my mental image of one standing with their masked face pressed against the wall doesn't seem practical. ) There may be tricks for managing with your specific mask - suggest adding the name of your mask in the title to catch the attention of fellow users.

[jnk...]

Are you able to touch the top of your head with the hand that will be mobile?

If so, a technique similar to this one may work for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxhzbGFCZR4

[Midnight Strangler]

If so, a technique similar to this one may work for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxhzbGFCZR4

Do note that he uses two hands out of the camera field of view. Tricky fellow.

Best of luck to the OP in finding a good solution.

[jnk...]

If so, a technique similar to this one may work for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxhzbGFCZR4

Do note that he uses two hands out of the camera field of view. Tricky fellow.

Best of luck to the OP in finding a good solution.

Yep. And he totally flubbed his first attempt, didn't he. But to me, that adds to the honesty in depicting the difficulty of the thing while still offering a possibility. Not all masks work like that one, either.

[Morchella]

Your question made me curious, so I had to experiment... and now I know that it is pretty easy to put an Amara View on and off with one hand! And that's an FFM.

[Jane Jetson]

I have a full face mask. I think I could do it by only taking off one clip rather than 2. I am not sure. I also presume your other hand will be in pain and you will need to baby it a little. If you have to elevate it, can you have the cushion ready so once the mask is one your work is done?

This is just me but I might skip the mask for the first few days at home if I was supposed to be resting. I would go back to poor sleep for a while but not for 8 weeks. That's a long time and you need your oxygen and sleep to heal. I am sorry I don't have anything better to contribute.

[Midnight Strangler]

But to me, that adds to the honesty

If he were honest, he could have said something like, "Well, I flubbed that. Try it yourself and see if you can get it done with some practice."

[SleepyEyes21]

Will you be working with a physical or occupational therapist? They can be very helpful at finding ways to accomplish goals even with limitations. Just thinking things through, seems to me one challenge is keeping the mask in place while getting the headgear on. Maybe doing it while lying on your back would help with that. Or in some way bracing the the mask while placing the headgear. (Although my mental image of one standing with their masked face pressed against the wall doesn't seem practical. ) There may be tricks for managing with your specific mask - suggest adding the name of your mask in the title to catch the attention of fellow users.

kteague is right- check with a physical or occupational therapist, or your doctor's office about how to do this - before your surgery. Also- practice it multiple times before your surgery, so you'll know you've got it mastered.
If you can tell us what kind of mask you are using, someone here may be able to suggest an answer to help.

I was in a similar situation recently; I had arthroscopic surgery on my shoulder in late January, and was going to be immobile with that arm for up to 6 weeks. I also had to think about how to do things differently for quite a while, and my PT's helped quite a bit

Best of luck with your surgery and healing