This topic is about the anxiety and fear that many people with ostomies felt during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the worry about running out of essential ostomy supplies. The originator of the discussion shared their initial fears when the pandemic began, including concerns about the availability of commercial pouches. Although the worst-case scenario didn't happen, the fear of another global crisis affecting supply chains remains. The originator has been cautious, avoiding infection but sadly losing a sibling to COVID-19, which has added to their anxiety.

Here are some pieces of advice and insights shared by others:

1. Vaccination and Basic Precautions
- It's important to get fully vaccinated, with options like the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines. Continue wearing masks, practicing good hand hygiene, and maintaining social distance. N95 respirators are particularly effective because they filter out larger respiratory droplets.

2. Managing Anxiety
- Feeling anxious during the pandemic is common. If it becomes overwhelming, consider seeking professional help. Mindfulness practices, such as focusing on the present moment, limiting news consumption, taking walks, and reconnecting with nature, can help reduce stress.

3. Contingency Planning for Pouch Shortages
- Keep a reserve of older ostomy supply samples, as they might be useful if there's a supply interruption. There are resources like the YouTube video "How to Make an Improvised Colostomy Bag" by Tita Nerisa Balverde, which shows how to make a homemade pouch from plastic materials.

4. Alternative Ostomy Techniques
- Learning to irrigate a colostomy can significantly reduce the need for pouches if supplies become limited.

5. General Preparedness
- In some regions, ostomates already make their own bags. Learning these skills now could be beneficial in the future. Keep any instructional materials or samples that could be used as prototypes in an emergency.