Many people who get over the initial infection still need a lot of help with: Regaining physical and mental strengthCompleting a course of antibiotic treatmentAssessing the reason that the infection happened in the first place i.e its underlying causeMaking sure that the home environment is safe for people leaving hospital with new physical disability This process of recovery and rehabilitation often requires an average length of stay in hospital of seven days.  People who leave hospital after sepsis often struggle to return to their previous level of function. The main problems directly related to sepsis are physical, cognitive (relating to brain function) and psychological. There is no easy way to deal with these problems and nobody is the same – in some cases people barely notice any change, in others the effects of sepsis can be devastating, costing people their independence and/or livelihoods. On a positive note, symptoms usually improve over time and can respond to therapy. Speak with your healthcare professional about recovery from a severe illness, and ask for extra help if you need it. It may also help you to do the following: Speak with friends and relatives about what you’re feeling and going throughKeep a diary during your recovery, so that you can see where things have improvedGet in touch with your GP once you’ve left hospital and explain how things have been at homeSpeak with your employer about a graduated return to work if that is available to you – remember, sepsis is a severe illness like a heart attack or stroke and many people with these conditions can’t go straight back to work