Easiest mask to put on one handed

[apw5746]

I will be having rotor cuff surgery shortly, leaving me without the use of my left hand, which is my dominate hand. I'm wondering which mask will be the easiest to put on one handed? Currently I have the AirFit P10, which is wonderful. It's light weight, and allows me to sleep either on my back or side. Plus it's fairly easy to put on one handed. However, I'm a mouth breather and a chin strap hasn't helped. Nor has the trick a lot of you have talked about where you place your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Waking up in the morning with a dry mouth isn't pleasant. I have tried to use the new version of the Quattro FX, but it forces me to sleep on my back to keep the seal intact, and is just about impossible to put it one one handed.

The surgery will force me to sleep in a recliner or in bed using a wedge system from the Relax The Back store: http://www.relaxtheback.com/purefit-adj ... oCxyfw_wcB. Until I regain functionality of my left arm, which will quite some time, I'm resigned to using only the P10, or has someone else encountered this situation, and solved the issue.

Pat

PS: I live alone, and my cat has yet to master the technique of putting on my mask for me.

[library lady]

I'm using the AirFit F10 (FF), which is incredibly easy to put on once it's been adjusted. It's leaky, but if you order a Pad-A-Cheek liner, which can stay on for the entire time of recovery, you should have little trouble with leaks. I use a different liner, but needs two hands to align it.

I had a rotator cuff surgery 10 years ago, did not need special sleeping arrangements such as you mention; I just slept on my right side every night... like you, I'm left handed so learned to do things right-handed for those weeks.

Hope this helps, and hope you have a good recovery.

[cathyf]

Another AirFit F10 user here. Once the straps are adjusted, the way I put it on is to put the headgear over my head and the mask on my face, and then stretch the loops on the lower straps towards the hooks on the bottom corners of the mask. I can do this with one hand -- I loop one side, then the other. If I use two hands and do both sides together my mask is usually set right. If I do one side then the other, I usually have to do a little tugging and adjusting to get it set. But, anyway, the point is that when you are going to hook the second side in, the mask is stable -- it won't fall off. Do you have a good RT at your DME? Mine showed me some tricks on working each different kind of mask -- if yours is good, maybe he/she can help you figure out how to work one-handed?

[M'ohms]

I had rotator cuff surgery last January and had no problem putting my FFM on at all. At the time I alternated between the QFX and the Hybrid. Now I alternate between the QFX and the F10. I did sleep in a recliner for about a year (both before and after surgery), but could always put my mask on even when I wore a sling. Just tilt your face down to meet the hand on your recovering side (use for stabilization) and let the other arm do all the work. Good luck!

[photonic]

Yep, the tilt the head down technique will work just fine. BUT I can put on my Oracle mouth mask with one hand very easily.

[zoocrewphoto]

Darn cat! I still keep trying to get mine to wake me up if I fall asleep without the machine.

[archangle]

A breeze sleepgear or comfortlite 2 might be easier to put on one handed.

[Nozzelnut]

I used a F&P Simplus while recovering from my own shoulder surgery earlier this year. Easy to put on one handed; all you need to do is clip the lower strap.

Tried the elevated sleeping position, but couldn't make it work, so just slept regularly on the non-surgery side while my shoulder healed.

[chunkyfrog]

In the same situation, I would dig out my tap pap.

[apw5746]

Does anyone use the hybrid mask by Innovention? Is it fairly easy to put on once properly adjusted? I'm very comfortable with the AiFfit P10, but as I said in my OP I'm a mouth breather. My doctor feels a FFM such as Quattro FX will do fix my therapy. My only objection is I'm very claustrophobic.

[M'ohms]

The Innomed Hybrid is more difficult to put on. Not only do you have to put it on like any full face mask, but you also have to adjust the nasal pillows once you get the mask in place. The QFX is easier to put on in that you have no pillows to contend with. Outside of shoulder issues, I like both masks and would alternate them to suit my mood or nose bridge.

[Tatooed Lady]

I really like the Swift FX. I have a small travel pillow that helps me keep my yap shut while sleeping. I just tuck it up under my chin...works best when side sleeping, as it's more a cuddle than wedge...but if you're sleeping in a recliner this may still work well.

[jagzoo]

I think both the Tap Pap and the Airfit P10 are easy to put on 1 handed. The Tap Pap would win my vote for easiest. If you haven't tried it - might be worth it - with return insurance.

As for your dry mouth, if your leaks aren't in the high territory, then you can just try treating them. I use XyliMelts, same stuff as the biotene mouth spray, but they adhere to your gums and release the xylitol throughout the night. I spray with the biotene ( or generic at Rite-aid) and then put the tabs in place and I'm good for the night. They have stopped me from awakening with dry mouth throughout the night.

Good luck with the rotator cuff surgery! Let us know how it goes.

[RogerSC]

Darn cat! I still keep trying to get mine to wake me up if I fall asleep without the machine.

Sounds like you need one of those apnea support dogs that I read about some time ago that taps you if you fall asleep, so you can make sure you have your mask on *smile*. Come to think of it, they probably wouldn't get along real well with cats.

Never mind...

Although my dog and cat apparently have a formal agreement to peacefully coexist, so it likely depends on the particular animals. In fact, sometimes they enjoy fooling us into thinking that they're actually buddies, those clever guys. They get lots of praise, and some petting for that *smile*.

[sleepstar]

The airfit n10 has magnets which may be helpful