Ill health affects people in different ways. As you have been unwell it may take some time to feel your normal self again. The length of time this takes will depend on the illness you have had; how long you have been ill for; how much weight you may have lost and other factors individual to you. Many people experience both physical and emotional changes, while others experience very little. Research shows that because of a lack of memory of the illness while in intensive care, patients find it difficult to understand why it takes so long to return to normal.
This booklet aims to give you information about what to expect following a period of critical illness and some advice on how to help your recovery and rehabilitation both in hospital and when you go home.