Epilepsy diary
If you or someone you care for has epilepsy, tracking seizures isn't optional – it's essential. Here's why a digital diary helps.Neurologists always ask the same questions: When was the last seizure? What did it look like? Had you taken your medication? Were you sleeping enough? If you're trying to remember all this in a waiting room, you're going to miss things. An epilepsy diary – especially a digital one – makes those conversations actually useful.
What you should be tracking
The basics: date, time, type of seizure, how long it lasted. But the details matter too – what you were doing before, whether you felt an aura, how you felt afterward. Over time, patterns emerge. Maybe seizures cluster around certain times. Maybe they're worse when you've missed sleep. A paper diary works, but apps make it easier to spot these patterns because they can visualize the data for you.
Medication tracking is the other piece. It sounds simple, but knowing with certainty whether you took Tuesday's morning dose makes a difference when you're adjusting treatment.
Why doctors care about the data
A study in the American Epilepsy Society found that 85% of neurologists say patient-recorded seizure data significantly influences their treatment decisions. That's not surprising – they only see you for 15 minutes every few months. The diary is how they see what's actually happening in your life.
For caregivers
If you're caring for someone with epilepsy – especially a child – you're often the one witnessing seizures and tracking medications. Having an app that keeps everything in one place, that you can share with doctors, that reminds you about doses: it's not just convenient, it reduces the mental load of a hard job.
The research
- About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy. (World Health Organization, 2022)
- Consistent seizure diary use improves seizure control in up to 50% of patients. (Epilepsy Research, 2019)
- Digital diaries increase medication adherence by 27% compared to paper. (Journal of Neurology, 2020)
- Patients using diary apps report 40% more confidence discussing their condition with doctors. (Epilepsy Foundation, 2022)