This topic is about a person who has been living with an ileostomy since 2016 and is experiencing a puzzling situation. Every couple of months, they notice flat, Band-Aid-like cloth items, either black or green, coming out of their stoma and into their pouch. Despite showing these items to several doctors, no one has been able to identify them.

Here are some helpful insights and advice for dealing with this situation:

1. Keep a record by photographing or bringing the material to medical appointments so healthcare providers can see exactly what is being passed.

2. Consider the possibility that these items might be:
- Retained surgical material, such as sponges, gauze, or mesh, left behind from previous surgeries.
- Undigested food or intact pills, although this is less likely given their appearance and color.

3. Understand that passing surgical dressing years after surgery is not normal. It is important to seek an urgent second opinion.

4. Recommended steps for further investigation include:
- Consulting immediately with a surgeon, stoma nurse, or visiting the emergency room.
- Getting a CT scan or MRI of the abdomen and pelvis, both with and without contrast, to check for any retained foreign body, abscess, or fistula.
- Having a laboratory analyze one of the expelled pieces to determine its composition.

5. Be aware of a possible scenario where a retained foreign object could have caused a chronic intra-abdominal abscess. This might intermittently drain through a fistula into the intestine, explaining the recurring pain and discharge. This situation carries a risk of serious infection, such as sepsis, and requires prompt treatment.

6. The general consensus is to pursue thorough medical evaluation, insist on imaging and testing, and not to accept "I don’t know" as a final answer from healthcare providers.