This topic is about the narrowing of a stoma, known as stenosis or stricture, which can occur without any apparent cause, especially when no active bowel disease is present. The person experiencing this issue is seeking advice and solutions from others who might have faced similar challenges, while also preparing for a possible surgical consultation. Here are some insights and advice shared by others:

1. Stenosis is relatively common, affecting about 6% of people with an ileostomy and 4% with a colostomy. Often, no clear cause is found when there is no active bowel disease, and surgery is typically the standard treatment.

2. The person has a very short bowel length left and is working with a specialized team to avoid further loss of intestine. Their surgeon is open to trying non-surgical methods first, such as self-dilation or using a temporary stent, before considering surgery.

3. They are exploring various tools for dilation, including garden dibbers, cervical/uterine dilators, and other items, and are even considering making custom tools.

4. There is a concern that a rigid stent could trap food, leading to an emergency situation.

Advice and insights from others include:

- Periodic manual dilation can help. One person found that inserting a lubricated finger past the narrowed area and holding it there until the spasm relaxes can keep the stoma open. Using commercial stoma plugs during the day might also help train the stoma to stay open, though there might be occasional expulsion and minor leakage.

- For dilation tools, a stainless-steel garden dibber is recommended for being inexpensive, smooth, tapered, and easy to sterilize. Other suggestions include cervical/uterine dilators, otoscope tips, and turkey basters. Sex-toy dilators were generally not recommended due to their shape, size requirements, and cost.

- Caution is advised with homemade stents. Solid stents without a gas outlet can cause pressure build-up, and drilling gas holes can lead to complications. Any device used should have a gentle taper, be short enough to follow the bowel's curve, and be easy to remove if a blockage occurs.

- From a surgical and emergency perspective, one person shared their experience of needing emergency surgery due to a severe ileostomy stricture that caused a complete obstruction. This situation can become life-threatening quickly, so early signs of obstruction should be taken seriously.

- It's valuable to have a surgeon willing to explore non-surgical options, and maintaining open communication is important. Having an emergency plan, such as going straight to the ER and requesting the surgeon, is also recommended.