Preparing for an appointment

In some cases, seizures need immediate medical attention, and there's not always time to prepare for an appointment.

In other cases, your first appointment to evaluate a seizure may be with your family doctor or a general practitioner. Or you may be referred to a specialist, such as a doctor trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologist) or a neurologist trained in epilepsy (epileptologist).

To prepare for your appointment, consider what you can do to get ready and understand what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

• Record information about the seizure. Include the time, location, symptoms you experienced and how long it lasted, if you know these details. Seek input from anyone who may have seen the seizure, such as a family member, friend or co-worker, so that you can record information you may not know.
• Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do in advance to be ready for any medical tests or exams.
• Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
• Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements that you're taking, including dosages.
• Take a family member or friend along, to help you remember all the information provided during an appointment. Also, because you may not be aware of everything that happens when you're having a seizure, your doctor may want to ask questions of someone who was a witness.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor. Preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time with your doctor.

For seizures, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What do you think caused my seizure?
• Do I need to have any tests done?
• What treatment approach do you recommend?
• What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
• How likely is it that I might have another seizure?
• How can I make sure that I don't hurt myself if I have another seizure?
• I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
• Should I see a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover it?
• Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
• Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take home with me? What websites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask questions during your appointment at any time that you don't understand something.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions:

• Can you describe your seizure episode?
• Where were you and what happened right before it started?
• Was anyone there to witness what happened?
• What do you remember feeling just before the seizure? What about right after the seizure?
• What symptoms did you experience?
• How long did the seizure last?
• Have you ever had a seizure or other neurological problem in the past?
• Do you have any family members who have been diagnosed with a seizure disorder or epilepsy?
• Have you recently traveled outside the country?