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Reading graphs

Around the Peak, and the Descent After It

This is practice in reading one peak as three parts. Different things happen in the rising stretch, near the top, and in the descending stretch.

The graph

Example curve where the peak sits wide and high before coming down The horizontal axis runs from 06:00 to 15:00. The vertical axis is how well the body is moving, relative to that person's own range — higher is better movement. Doses are marked at 07:00. The highest point is around 07:45. higher lower 07:00 06 08 10 12 14 Example curve where the peak sits wide and high before coming down The horizontal axis runs from 06:00 to 15:00. The vertical axis is how well the body is moving, relative to that person's own range — higher is better movement. Doses are marked at 07:00. The highest point is around 07:45. higher lower 07:00 06 08 10 12 14
  • Response through the day
  • Time a dose was taken
An illustration generated for teaching. The height of a curve does not itself mean dyskinesia, and real curves differ from person to person.

Looking at one peak as a whole, it just registers as “a stretch when you moved well.” But different things actually happen in the rising stretch, near the top, and the descending stretch.

Where dyskinesia falls among these three differs from person to person. Some people describe it as clustering near the top, and others describe it as appearing on the way down. You can’t tell from the curve alone — the position only shows up when you record event times alongside it.

So when reading this shape, look at the curve and the event marks together. Once several days build up, you can see whether the marks cluster at the same spot on the peak or scatter around. If that spot stays consistent, what you can tell your doctor becomes much more specific — not Saying, “I have dyskinesia,” but Saying, “It shows up every time, about 30 minutes after my best time.”

What to look at

  • The width near the top How wide the stretch is where the curve stays flat near the peak.
  • Any event marked in that stretch If you've logged dyskinesia, look at whether it overlaps with the top.
  • The slope of the descent Whether it's gradual or steep after it passes the top.
  • Any event marked in the descending stretch For some people, the same event clusters on the way down.

Worth recording when you see this shape

  • The time you felt best, and your output then This becomes the position and height of the peak.
  • The time you started feeling heavy again This becomes the point where the descent starts.
  • If dyskinesia happened, the time it started and the time it stopped You need both times to judge whether it overlapped with the top.
  • Which part of the body it was, at the time For some people, the part differs depending on the time of day.
  • Whether it's the same position over several days With just one day, it's hard to tell coincidence from a pattern.

The shape of the curve is material for describing your situation. Decisions about the type, dose, or timing of medication belong with the clinicians who look after you.

Start recording