Free Thesos tool · Piece: Bowel Pattern

Understand Your Stool Pattern

Build a clearer picture from consistency, color, frequency, urgency and what is normal for you.

~2 min A clear snapshot of your bowel pattern and when to see a doctor

Your answers are not saved to your Thesos account unless you choose to save them. Educational, not a diagnosis.

About this tool, FAQ and sources

Your stool says a lot about how your gut is working. This analyzer looks at consistency, shape, colour, frequency, urgency and more separately, so you get a fuller picture than a single number, plus clear guidance on when something needs a doctor.

How it works

You describe your typical stool over the last week across several independent dimensions using original Thesos drawings. Each dimension is reported on its own rather than combined into a single type. Colour and safety answers are checked first, and anything that needs medical attention is shown at the top of your result.

It can

  • Describe your current bowel pattern clearly
  • Flag colours and symptoms that should be checked by a doctor
  • Suggest what may be useful to track next

It cannot

  • Diagnose IBS or any other condition
  • Tell you the cause of a change
  • Rule out a medical problem

Questions

What colour should healthy stool be?
Usually some shade of brown. Green or yellow can follow certain foods or faster transit. Black, tar-like, red, pale or clay-coloured stool should be checked by a doctor.
Is floating stool a problem?
Not by itself. It's often linked to gas or diet. If floating stool is also greasy and hard to flush and keeps happening, mention it to a doctor.
When should a change in bowel habits be checked?
UK NHS guidance suggests seeing a GP if a change in your bowel habits lasts 3 weeks or more, or straight away if you notice blood.

Method and sources

Original Thesos multi-dimensional system (v1.0); it does not use any numbered stool form scale. Warning rules come from NIDDK (bleeding signs), MedlinePlus (pale and black stool, malabsorption) and NHS guidance (bowel habit changes lasting 3 weeks or more).

Evidence sources last reviewed: 15 October 2026Last updated: 15 October 2026

For education and self-management only. Not a diagnosis. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.