This topic is about someone who, after having an ileostomy for 2½ years, experiences stomach pain early in the morning and is looking for ways to thicken their stoma output and stay hydrated. Here are some helpful suggestions and insights:

- Pain considerations:
1. If you're experiencing persistent pain, it's important to consult with a physician or stoma nurse to get it checked out.
2. Early-morning pain might be due to gas from an empty stomach. Consider having a small, easily digested snack before bed to see if it helps.

- Diet to thicken output:
1. Incorporate high-starch, low-fiber foods into your diet. Some options include potatoes, rice, pasta, bread with butter, crackers (like graham crackers), cookies, chips, yams, and chicken.
2. For quick fixes, try eating marshmallows or bananas.

- Hydration strategies:
1. Alternate drinking plain water with electrolyte drinks such as Gatorade to maintain hydration.
2. Limit caffeinated beverages like regular tea or coffee to the mornings. For the rest of the day, switch to herbal or decaf teas to help reduce dehydration.