Wearing a face mask is bloody awful!

[shellydolls]

Wore one yesterday in the shop for the first time.

I felt like I was suffocating myself!
I felt dizzy!
I couldn't concentrate on my shopping as I felt so uncomfortable and my glasses kept fogging up!

Please can someone recommend a very breathable mask as I won't be out shopping again until I can breath properly.

Absolutely hate them, but obviously wear them in shops now. Even the light cotton ones press on your nose and feel warm. That feeling of fresh air when you step outside the shop and remove it is nice though.....

@heartsonacake
Can you give some tips on how to wear my mask properly because i rather would wear in properly. It seems a lot of us struggle with it. Are different types better or should it be smaller /bigger.

@BikeRunSki that's what I use too ....

The guidance says that scarves can be used, so why not just get a light gauzy scarf and draped over mouth and nose as you go on?

Get a grip. It’s a bit of material.

Granted it took a little longer than I thought at 4 posts in but the famous
“Get a grip”words had to come into it. That’s getting as bad as and cringy as “give your head a wobble.!
We know it’s a piece of material and we know we have to wear them.
However we’re allowed not to like them!

I find the disposable ones easier to wear. Only problem is they’re far more expensive.
FX they find a vaccine soon.

I haven't read the whole thread so apologies if I am repeating. I wear a mask for work and find a really good fit prevents fogging. I tie a tiny knot at the end of each elastic to ensure a snug fit. You can also put a folded piece of tissue across the bridge of the nose, under the mask.

For those of you struggling with badly fitting mask (designed for men not women 🙄)
I've heard if you polish your specs with shaving foam it helps.
Also I have these. They hold the tack ask tighter to your face.

Referring to face covers ie scarves in the winter, I hate this too. I only cover my face with a scarf if it is extremely cold (rare in England).

To all the posters saying 'does this need its own topic' and 'get a grip' and 'drs have to wear these all day so suck it up' do you have any idea of how you sound? You are more annoying than the masks and that's saying something.

Can anyone help me at all? I went to an appointment and wore a disposable mask, I pinched the nose in and it was correctly positioned as far as I know, but it kept moving up while I was sitting there. So much so it was nearly hitting my eyelashes. Do I just need one with tighter ear loops? (I'm keen to buy a reusable one but I'm worried the same thing will happen). (The person I went to see didn't have that problem with hers, could it be hers was tighter around the ears so stayed in place better?)

I agree - they are bloody awful - and pointless too

"We know that wearing a mask outside health care facilities offers little, if any, protection from infection. Public health authorities define a significant exposure to Covid-19 as face-to-face contact within 6 feet with a patient with symptomatic Covid-19 that is sustained for at least a few minutes (and some say more than 10 minutes or even 30 minutes). The chance of catching Covid-19 from a passing interaction in a public space is therefore minimal. In many cases, the desire for widespread masking is a reflexive reaction to anxiety over the pandemic." NEJM

I'm very curious about doctors who've never had to wear masks. Not even in training if watching an op?!

While I personally wish, due to having actually looked at what evidence is out there, that masks (or rather, face coverings) had been made mandatory some months ago, it's better late than never. (I'm not going to mutter under my breath AT ALL about it being a bit like taking a packet of condoms to a baby shower.) Nurse and ex NHS in this household; we have an assortment of masks ranging from surgical (and yes, we did purchase them ourselves, thank you, the ones provided by work are for use at work - I've also been very cross about the stories of NHS people asking for freebies, since most of the NHS folk I know wouldn't dream of doing so and often provide things like their own stationery so they can do their jobs so I'm not quite sure where those scabby little oiks are hanging out) to close fitting fabric washable ones. We do have a couple of filter masks but they're a last resort.

If you'd like to have a look at some of the evidence on masks for yourself, there's a link at www.evidence.nhs.uk/search?ps=50&q=face+mask&s=Date although bear in mind some of the information on there is straight from central government.

I have just had my hair cut and was given a paper disposable one with the wire over the nose. I found it just fine, more comfortable than a cloth one but I am reluctant to use the single-use, disposable ones. Look, a lot of people have to use them to do their jobs, many people don't like using them. I just wish people like you would grown up. You're not special or exceptional. You're an adult, act like one.

I had to wear full PPE for 4 or 5 months it was horrendous. I'm keen not to go there agin if we have another outbreak.
If it's uncomfortable try a different brand some of them are awful. I can't wear the fabric one I made from a pattern it's not comfortable so I just wear a surgical mask with the ear elastic twisted round, it stops your glasses fogging up. As does a piece of surgical paper tape along the nose/mask join. Could use paper masking tape also.

Has anyone else broken out in spots around the chin after wearing a mask?

I am really having to try out a few different ones, to get the best fit. Don't forget making your own means you can make to suit your own face size.
Some gape around the cheeks, some of them, the elastic pulls my ears forward so that's not comfortable. Have invested in some gadgets that sit on the back of the head so the elastic hooks over that rather than the ears - pulls the mask over the face for a snugger fit too.
Even putting my glasses on over the top of the mask doesn't help with the steaming up plus it rides up into my eyes. A buff/gaiter type covering is another option but how that will be worn over a period time, I don't know and of course they're thin and will get sweaty.
I am about to go back to work where I'll need to wear one for my work and I'm not looking forward to that aspect. I think we've ordered visors too. It'll be my first time on public transport too so feeling a bit nervous, tbh! Am also thinking my skin is going to suffer too.

Those are the things I'm going to try, @drinkingwineoutofamug.
Beware if you're going to use soap or foam on your glasses, I've been told they can ruin any special coatings on lenses.

To those that struggle. Practice at home. I’ve worked throughout on a ward - seriously it gets easier.

Put one on for 10-15 mins while watching TV or doing some cleaning just for short bursts. They do feel a bit restricting but after wearing them for 12 hour shifts it really does get easier.

@drinkingwineoutofamug

For those of you struggling with badly fitting mask (designed for men not women 🙄) I've heard if you polish your specs with shaving foam it helps. Also I have these. They hold the tack ask tighter to your face.

What are those?

I am a nurse - wear PPE for 12 hour shifts, still hate wearing masks and think its fair enough for people to have a whinge so one HCP doesn't speak for all HCP's. Have tried all sorts over the years to stop my glasses steaming up - surgical tape, wire inserts, colloid dressing on the bridge of the nose etc. None worked for me.

Also there is no such thing as a ventilator "mask" - a CPAP mask or an oxygen mask/specs yes, but if you are mechanically ventilated its through a OETT or a trache.

I just tie a silk scarf around my face OP, glasses steam up a lot less but even that is not perfect.

Those recommending valves, I thought the valved masks weren't recommended as they allow your exhaled breath to escape and thus blow a jet of contaminated air out, thus protecting no one? I may be wrong but wasn't Rishi Sunak pictured wearing one and got a ton of flak for it.

@sparklefarts , we had lovely members of the public knit them for us. The pic I posted is off etsy , just type in mask band , £3.99.
I also have head bands with buttons on to loop the mask onto makes it fit better.

Wearing masks is a minor, trivial inconvenience for a very good reason. Unless they have a genuine disability, people need to stop whingeing, woman / man up and get on with it.

Buy one with a clip on the nose to help stop glasses fogging up, works wonders.

I wore a mask and got really hot, my chest felt tight really quickly ( I have asthma)

I wore a visor to the supermarket for the weekly shop today, it was great, really comfortable. I didn't get hot.

Id definitely recommend one.

@Clutterbugsmum

I really don't get people moaning and complaining about wearing a thin fabric mask and yet in the winter you all walk around with your thick winter scarfs wrapped around your face like you heading out to the Arctic.

If you really hate wearing a thin mask so much then shop online and save the rest of us from you.

I most certainly don't wear a thick winter scarf so stop generalising.