Will Trump's Tariffs Affect Ostomy Supply Costs?

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71
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978
Liger
Apr 01, 2025 1:48 pm

Thank you 🙏🏻. I was having trouble trying to copy and paste links on here in order to show receipts. You just summed it up perfectly 😊

AlexT
Apr 01, 2025 5:04 pm

Building my stockpile every month….


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Posted by: Nini4

Well,  I  hit the two year mark. I went back and read my posts from when I first found this site. I was very fortunate in that I stumbled upon it only 4 weeks post op. I have said many times that this community really saved me. The first 2 weeks after my surgery I shut down completely. It wasn't until about the 3rd week that my son came in to my room, flicked on the light and told me I was going to have to get back to living because I was scaring him. I had fallen into such a depression.  He  ticked me off,  but it also made me stop and think- what was I going to do? Feel sorry for myself and sulk, or be grateful I was alive. 

I've re-read my journals from that time and it was after my son kicked my butt, so to speak, I took an honest inventory and had to dig deeper than I've ever had to. I mean, I had survived a pretty nasty divorce, after a pretty crappy marriage and that was tough. But this was different. I felt like I was now a handicapped person who would be limited in their life and be looked at as a freak. My mental state was precarious, at best. 

But then I found this site. I just lurked a bit before posting. I read so many of the other stories and I started to see just how full my life can be, I was not handicapped,  and certainly not a freak! The stories of survival, the sense of humor, the support and compassion was inspiring.  It was then I made myself get out of the dark, and get my sh*t together.  

Not all rainbows and sunshine at first, hardly! But with grace from myself - to myself, and the kindness and willingness of the folks here to be supportive, non judgemental and openly share intimate details about their life circumstances,  l not only survived but thrived. 

I think of all the years I had suffered with such extreme pain, barely functioning,  and the many hospital stays and how that is all behind me now.  (All fingers, toes, and legs crossed that I never have to go near a hospital for myself ever again. I think I'd rather have a fork stuck in my eye. I loathe every about them.)  

So, to everyone who has been a part of this journey with me, to say thank you is not enough. I'm forever grateful to know you all.  My Angels, each one of you. 

 And as the Grateful Dead famously said,

"what a long strange trip it's been!"

Im so happy I'm tripping with you all.


SusanT
Apr 01, 2025 5:08 pm

I have a reasonable stockpile considering I've only had a short time to start accumulating.

Now I'm trying to decide how much is too much. It's taking up a lot of space already, given I'm collecting for 2 stomas.

Liger
Apr 01, 2025 5:34 pm

Whoa 😮. That's amazing! 👏🏻

Jo 🇦🇺
Apr 02, 2025 12:54 am

Well done, Alex! At least we know who to call if there's a zombie apocalypse! 😅🧟‍♀️🏹🪓🧟💪👍

Or it may be a case of "I'll give you my bags when you pry them from my cold, dead hands!" 🤭

 

My Ostomy Journey: Keyla | Hollister

Play
AlexT
Apr 02, 2025 3:33 am

I don't think you can have enough. 🤷‍♂️ I write the date (month/year) that I get mine and use the oldest first. I know they have expiration dates, but I haven't looked at one since I first got them; I just go by the date I get them.

AlexT
Apr 02, 2025 3:39 am

When the zombies attack, let me know.

infinitycastle52777
Apr 06, 2025 8:42 pm

I wish I had a stockpile of supplies. I do not, and my insurance doesn't give me enough supplies to make a stockpile. I think it would be a good idea. What I am wondering is if the quality of supplies will change. If they all have to be made in America and the cost is going to go up, then the cost of making them will go up, and the quality might go down.

SusanT
Apr 06, 2025 11:45 pm

It isn't just that they'd have to be manufactured here. All the component parts need to be made here too, or they will pay tariffs on them. So the different plastics, the Velcro, the adhesive, the paper, etc., all need to be made here. And some of those components have component parts, like the plastic seal on a 2-piece system, which is likely molded and supplied to them. The people doing the molding would need to buy resin, and that needs to be U.S.-made. If it's currently done in a foreign country, they'd need to import the molds to make them here and pay tariff on that. It goes on and on.

Price will go up. And without as many FDA inspectors, quality might slip.

IGGIE
Apr 07, 2025 12:26 am

You are so right, Susan; it's an endless chain.

IGGIE

amkevergreen
Apr 08, 2025 1:03 am

.........................  https://DOGE.gov  ..............  https://doge-tracker.com/  .............................  https://doge.gov/  ..........................

Maried
Apr 08, 2025 1:42 am

The DOGE clock is not directly affiliated with the organization, but appears to align with broader efforts to track government spending. The website says that the data is "not official."

The website says it is a "community-driven meme project designed to raise awareness of government spending and overregulation" and "the token is intended solely for educational and entertainment purposes."

Bob 48
Apr 08, 2025 3:29 am

"It's easier to fool someone than to convince them they have been fooled."

JM_IN_MD
Apr 08, 2025 4:07 am

With everything going on in the world, it might be better in the long term to bring manufacturing back to this country. That way we wouldn't have to worry about getting our supplies from halfway around the world. It also would create jobs for our citizens. What would happen right now if a war or a natural disaster happened that disrupted our supply chain? This past year there was a shortage of saline bags due to the storms that hit North Carolina. Change is usually hard, but in many cases, it can be good.

JM_IN_MD
Apr 08, 2025 4:10 am

I wish he would put a tariff on all the B.S. that comes out of Congress. We'd never have to pay taxes again!

JM_IN_MD
Apr 08, 2025 4:30 am

Henry,

I've thought really hard about the way things are being done by the current administration and realized that if it wasn't done this way, then nothing will change. Too many folks in Washington are raking the pot of money that we know as taxes. And that includes folks from both parties. I'm just hoping when the dust clears that we will have a better country.

Maried
Apr 08, 2025 4:34 am

Maybe if you stockpile emergency products, that would be helpful instead of using the JIT delivery method for many products.

Americans have become spoiled with cheap products from other countries. The average clothing worker in China makes approximately $559.00 to $1,550.00 a month. These are the people that make our clothing. If we manufacture the same products in America, the price of clothing would increase substantially because the wages would have to increase. Where can you live in America on $559.00 to $1,550.00 a month?

JM_IN_MD
Apr 08, 2025 4:43 am

When is the last time you have seen a budget approved by Congress before the budget year actually started?

JM_IN_MD
Apr 08, 2025 4:45 am

If they get too expensive, we'll just have to break out the baggies and the duct tape!

SusanT
Apr 08, 2025 2:32 pm

You mention a shortage of IV solutions from a natural disaster in NC, which caused a disruption in the US supply chain. They dealt with that by bringing in foreign-manufactured products. To me, that's an argument for globalization rather than isolationism.

And we will encourage more manufacturing here by providing incentives. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

Punishing a US manufacturer because their supplier is foreign when no domestic suppliers are available just encourages them to go elsewhere. The chaotic way this has occurred encourages companies to select more predictable places to build their facilities. US companies are laying off workers and considering moving their operations out of the country (my husband's company is doing both). I don't see this trade war accomplishing its stated objectives.

Bob 48
Apr 08, 2025 6:12 pm

China employs Uyghurs for a lot less than that, possibly for no pay at all. If you're in favor of that so you can keep getting your clothes and electronics dirt cheap, I'm not. I'll be willing to pay a little more if products are manufactured here. I'm sure this comment will be called a conspiracy theory now because many of you on this thread only believe what the media tells you and don't bother to look elsewhere for facts, not alternate opinions but facts.

Maried
Apr 08, 2025 7:33 pm

You will be paying a lot more. U.S. workers make an average of $15/hr + ...it is a fact. Many things will cost a lot more if manufactured in the U.S. The good part is if we pay more, we buy less and keep that $40 t-shirt longer.

Bob 48
Apr 08, 2025 8:02 pm

Okay, you go ahead and keep supporting slave labor from China; I'd rather not.

IGGIE
Apr 09, 2025 2:08 am

Why don't you guys find a political site somewhere other than this, which is for ostomy only and helping people.

IGGIE

Maried
Apr 09, 2025 5:48 am

Ok. Will do. Sorry to offend you.

Jo 🇦🇺
Apr 09, 2025 9:02 pm

The original post was concerning the possible increasing cost of ostomy products caused by political tariffs, so it is relevant to ostomates.

We are very fortunate not to pay for our supplies down here (yet!), but I'm interested in what's happening in other countries, political or otherwise.

There are many posts on MAO that have bugger all to do with ostomies, but if I'm not keen on the topic or the poster (!), I just scroll on by; no harm, no foul, it's all good! 😊

Cheers, mate! 😎

HenryM
Apr 09, 2025 9:48 pm

LOL   Forgive a dumb non-Aussie, but does 'bugger all' mean 'nothing'?  I assume by the context that's what you mean.  Appreciate the post, too.  

warrior
Apr 09, 2025 9:51 pm

Unless it's a typo for booger... that's "snot" right though, I'm guessing...😆

TerryLT
Apr 09, 2025 10:02 pm

Yes, Henry, 'bugger all' means nothing or at least not much. It was one of my dad's favorite expressions.

Terry

Jo 🇦🇺
Apr 10, 2025 12:07 am

Ya silly old bugger Henry (not an insult, more a term of endearment as it's often what I call my dad!) - Terry is correct, here is Google's explanation of the different uses of bugger in a sentence:

"I'm buggered," "I'll be buggered," and "bugger me" are used colloquially in Great Britain (and often in New Zealand and Australia as well - including Canada apparently, basically all the colonials!) to denote or feign surprise at an unexpected (or possibly unwanted) occurrence. "I'm buggered" can also be used to indicate a state of fatigue.

Watch below for a humorous ad using its many variations! 😅

https://youtu.be/CPYmtEQiG18?si=qlDFuZY0XpD-mFqX