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Reading graphs

A Fast Fall

The rise looks the same as usual — it's only the fall that's steep. Look at the right side of the peak.

The graph

Example curve where the peak is about the same but the slope coming down is steep 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 08:00. higher lower 07:00 06 08 10 12 14 Example curve where the peak is about the same but the slope coming down is steep 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 08:00. higher lower 07:00 06 08 10 12 14
  • Response through the day
  • Reference curve, for comparison
  • Time a dose was taken
An illustration generated for teaching. The dotted line is a reference curve for comparison, and it does not mean "normal."

A peak tells two different stories on its left and right sides. The left side is about absorption and the rise; the right side is about how long it holds and how it comes down. This shape is a case where the left side looks normal, but only the right side has changed.

So if you only record the height of the peak, this shape stays invisible. In the graph above, the solid line and the dotted line climb to almost the same height. As far as “today’s dose worked well” goes, the two days look identical. The difference is what comes after.

There’s one thing the record needs — the time it started to feel heavy again. Without this value, the whole right side of the peak is left blank, and a day that worked well stays indistinguishable from a day that worked well but dropped off quickly.

A steep fall once is different from a steep fall for several days in a row. If this shape repeats over several days, then it belongs together with the shape where the held stretch keeps getting shorter. The related article below picks up from here.

What to look at

  • The height of the peak If it's close to the dotted line, the rise up had no problem.
  • The slope to the right of the peak This is the whole story of this shape. How much steeper it drops than the dotted line.
  • The width of the peak Whether the time spent near the top got shorter.
  • The distance left to the next dose Look at whether the low stretch grew longer because it fell early.

Worth recording when you see this shape

  • The best time This is the location of the top of the peak.
  • The time it started to feel heavy again This is the single most important thing about this shape.
  • The change in output in between Leaving even one note in the middle draws the slope.
  • How things were until the next dose How long it stayed low after it dropped.
  • How active you were that day This lets you check whether it's steeper on days with a lot of movement.

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.

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