This topic is about finding ways to temporarily stop or slow down the flow from a high-output ileostomy, especially during appliance changes. The person sharing their experience has been living with this condition for nine years and is looking for effective strategies that don't involve extra medication. Here are some suggestions and insights that might help:

1. Medications
- Consider talking to a surgeon or stoma nurse about anti-motility drugs like Lomotil or Imodium. Some people find success using Imodium daily, especially if they time the dose after a bile cycle ends to extend the quiet period.

2. Track and exploit your bowel’s natural cycle
- Pay attention to when your stoma releases a short bile surge in the morning, as this is often followed by a 30- to 60-minute window of minimal output.
- Determine the latest time you can eat the night before to ensure your gut is empty when you wake up.
- Some people find that intermittent fasting, such as eating only before 4 p.m., helps keep mornings low-output for easier appliance changes.

3. Food & Drink tactics
- High-fiber, low-sugar foods like certain chocolates, gelatin-based gummies, and olives might help thicken stool or create a short lull in output, though results can vary.
- Be cautious with high-sugar fruits if you have a lot of small bowel or colon missing, as excess glucose can increase output unless balanced with sodium.
- Total fasting, with no food or liquid (or only minimal sips of water) for several hours before a change, can help keep the bowel quiet.

4. Temperature techniques
- Rubbing an ice cube in circles around the stoma can cause an immediate temporary stoppage for some people.
- Another method is the "stoma workout": apply a cold washcloth for about 3 minutes, let air hit the stoma for 5 minutes, then use a warm compress for 30 seconds.

5. Emergency change tips
- If output starts during a change, try getting on your hands and knees over a bucket to catch the effluent, wait about 10 minutes for the flow to slow, then continue. You might need to use extra rings or barriers and plan to re-change the next morning.

6. General pointers
- Avoid eating or drinking anything, even water, right before starting a change.
- Keep track of which foods and timings affect your transit speed, as the average transit time is 5–8 hours.
- While opiates can slow output, they come with risks and should be a last-resort option, discussed with your doctor.