On your Seizure Plan, fill in as much information as you have about the type of seizures that you have. If you have more than one type of seizure, make sure that you write down all types that you have. If you are missing information:

• Talk to your family or people who witness your seizures to find out what happens during seizures and fill in the blanks.
• Take the information to your doctor or nurse to help fill in the blanks.

Name of seizure: Fill in the name of your seizure type and check this information with the doctor who treats your seizures. Sometimes abbreviated names or nicknames are used that are not accurate. For example, ‘petit mal’ may be used to describe a small seizure and not necessarily a true absence seizure. ‘Grand mal’ could have been used to describe a big seizure that may not be a true tonic-clonic seizure.

What happens: Fill in the key features that happen during your seizures. Use terms that other people will understand.

How long it lasts: Write down how long your seizures usually last- include the length of the active seizure and not the recovery period (or postictal phase) of the seizure. Seizures may feel like they last longer than they really do. It’s helpful to check the time with the people who witness them most often. If you have had EEG telemetry, talk to your doctor and find out what the tests results showed and how long the seizures lasted.

How often: Write down the typical frequency of your seizures, for example once or twice a week, daily, once every 3 or 4 months, or once a year. If you haven’t had a seizure in over a year, write down ‘none recently’ and include the date of your last seizure.

If you aren’t sure what type of seizures you have or don’t know how often they occur, go to My Resource Kit.

• Read ‘Tips for Seizure Observation’ to know what to look for.
• Read ‘Instructions for Using Seizure Calendars’ to learn how to use seizure calendars.
• Print out seizure calendars – either an event diary or monthly calendar and keep track of how often your seizures occur for a few months.
• Take this information to your doctor or nurse – these observations can help you find out the right name for your seizures and what to do.

Continue to Understanding My Seizure Triggers

Topic Editor: Steven C. Schachter, MD and Patricia O. Shafer, RN, MN.
Last Reviewed:5/25/07