A member of your healthcare team in hospital will provide you with information and education about the diagnosis of sepsis and the type of treatment you will need after you leave hospital. Sepsis can affect many organs in your body and affects everyone differently. You or your family member may need a range of follow-up treatments, depending on your situation.
When you leave hospital, your regular doctor (general practitioner, or GP) will play an important role in managing your health. Information about your care in hospital and your ongoing care needs should be provided to your GP so they can help manage your care. For Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, your GP care may be provided through your Aboriginal medical service.
Sepsis can have long-lasting effects. It is important that you are given information about these, as well as how to manage your health in the future. It takes time to recover from hospitalisation and treatment for sepsis, and you may not be able to go back to your usual activities for some time. Some people’s lives change significantly because of sepsis.
Your immune system can take time to recover, and this can mean you are more likely to get infections. It is important to talk with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about medicines you need to keep taking, and what you need to do to prevent infection, including staying up to date with vaccinations and maintaining good hygiene.
Sepsis can affect your ability to function socially, emotionally and cognitively (how well you can think and understand) while you are recovering, even after you leave hospital. It is important to discuss any issues with your doctor and seek help for symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety and trouble concentrating.
If your relative or someone close to you has died from sepsis, the healthcare service should give you information about what happened. They should also answer any questions you have about the events and treatment provided to the person leading up to their death.