Hi Perkling.  I've not dealt with this directly but it's a question that everyone has probably thought of.  I know I have, so perhaps my thoughts will be helpful.  For changing your appliance, I'd think you'd want to try to minimize any and all output so perhaps the day before you change, skip dinner, take Imodium, eat marshmallows or whatever you do to really minimize output.  You of course will need some extra time while changing with only one hand, without the worry of having output.  You're lucky you will have your dominant hand.  It seems to me you could take the bag off easily (maybe get some extra removal spray to really coat it so it almost drops off on its own), clean the area, then if you are laying down, your bag will stay in place easier as you place it. You might use heat (heating pad) if you normally don't, just to add some extra, if you feel you aren't getting the same amount of pressure as normal.  Pre-cut anything of course.  As far as emptying throughout the day, perhaps practice ahead of time.  Good luck.  I think you'll manage it well!  And hopefully your hand surgery is a total success!

When I broke my shoulder a few years back, I was doing things with one arm, but could still use my fingers to hold onto my appliance, if needed. It wasn't easy, but it helped a lot.

Will you have the use of any fingers on your operated hand, at least until you are healed up?

If you don't have any use of the one hand, I may be worth looking into 2pc appliances with closed-ended pouches, that you can remove and replace, rather than trying to empty and clean a drainable bag. \\

Pre-cut wafer (as @lynne suggests) would make appliance changes a little easier.

Do you have a colostomy or ileostomy? How many times do you typically empty your bag per day?

@lynne Thank you for your suggestions! I do believe I'll have to start laying down to put the appliance on (I use a moldable, if that matters?)  My current routine of application is probably more complex than it needs to be, but I've been having such good luck with it that I hate to change things.  While I probably won't skip dinner the night before a change, I think I will eat hours earlier than usual.  I'm feeling a little more confident that things will work out OK!

@veganostomy Thanks for your reply.  I'm having CMC arthroplasty so my thumb will be in a cast for 2 weeks minimum, I'm not sure of the other fingers.  Afterwards I understand I'll have a different kind of brace where I still shouldn't use the thumb for 4-6 weeks.   I will ask my surgeon to leave the rest of my fingers as free as possible from the cast.  I've been practicing - emptying is doable without my left thumb, but now I'm worrying about keeping the cast dry throughout (I use a little water to clean the bag out as it is easier than squishing TP around the inside of the tail to clean it, IMHO).  I have an ileostomy and empty once during the night, and minimum 8 times during a good day.  I use a moldable 2-piece - your post is making me consider continuing with that setup, but as you suggested, instead of emptying, dispose of the bag o'poo and put a new one on instead.  Oh yea, the more I think about that, the more I like the idea.  Thank you!

Posted by: @perkling

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I will ask my surgeon to leave the rest of my fingers as free as possible from the cast. 

This would be a great thing to ask. Having even your index and second finger free would make a HUGE difference.

I use a little water to clean the bag out as it is easier than squishing TP around the inside of the tail to clean it, IMHO)

Yes, if you can manage using water, it would be easier than fumbling with toilet paper. In that case, all you'd need to worry about is cleaning the tail end, which would be easy if you can wipe it.

If your barrier/flange is cut-to-size, you get a lot of them all ready before your surgery, which would certainly save some trouble. I have found when traveling that if I made sets - already-cut barrier, ring, and pouch - each in one of those gray plastic disposal bags, changing was simplified.  This could help you and your husband, if he is helping, when you do changes in the weeks after your surgery.

I had to change with a splint-type thing on my thumb and index finger when I had “trigger thumb” and it was do-able, not the same as your surgery, of course.

@llholiday 

use amazons search engine for “3rd hand”

something usable there might help with a little thought

@rick I  had no idea these types of things were available and I do believe I'll find something to help, thank you so much for the tip!