Experience with Jetleg??
Sep 3rd, 2004, 01:58 PM
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Experience with Jetleg??
Hello,
I have a question, when going to India how long before the Jetleg is over. What I'm asking is should we wait a couple days after we get off the plane before diving into our travel plans?? Never been on such a long flight before!
I have a question, when going to India how long before the Jetleg is over. What I'm asking is should we wait a couple days after we get off the plane before diving into our travel plans?? Never been on such a long flight before!
Sep 3rd, 2004, 03:11 PM
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It depends on a lot of things but count on taking it slow your first full day there. You haven't mentioned your arrival time but if you are getting in late at night, I would try and sleep then don't do too much your first day to readjust your time clock. I have been on trips much longer than the one you have to India and I have always ignored all that advice about not eating/drinking much. I do believe strongly in getting enough sleep and drinking lots of water during the flight. For some reason, sleeping and preventing dehydration helps me with jet lag more than anything else.
Sep 3rd, 2004, 06:38 PM
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don't know where you are coming from but we take a sleeping pill on the trans-pacific leg of the trip and find that helps---we usually arrive about midnight and get to bed by 2...last trip i was up at 6...
so we plan to do very little on that first day and try to carry on our usual schedule...we eat normally and relax by the pool and then go out from the hotel for 2-3 hours in the mid-PM...we eat lightly at nite and go to be at 9 or 10...if we last that long..
on the flight we eat lightly and sensible things....as little sugar as possible and lots of water....we drink no alchol or soft drinks...just water and sometimes green tea...we find these things help too...
so we plan to do very little on that first day and try to carry on our usual schedule...we eat normally and relax by the pool and then go out from the hotel for 2-3 hours in the mid-PM...we eat lightly at nite and go to be at 9 or 10...if we last that long..
on the flight we eat lightly and sensible things....as little sugar as possible and lots of water....we drink no alchol or soft drinks...just water and sometimes green tea...we find these things help too...
Sep 3rd, 2004, 08:35 PM
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I always say that I am not going to drink alcohol, but always end up having a few (just to calm my nerves)..Alcohol definately aids in bad jet lag (as well as caffeine)..On the way home, I never drink alchohol..But I find it takes way longer to get over jetlag upon returning home, sometimes up to 2 weeks for me!!
Sep 3rd, 2004, 09:25 PM
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Yes, I always find going east is more difficult. When I come to Asia I'm fine in a couple of days. Going home to North America I feel like crap for almost a week.
Just try your best not to nap once at your destination, and get your meals and sleep on a "proper" schedule right away. You may still hit a point in the day when you feel like a zombie, but if you just stay active through it you should make it to bedtime.
Just try your best not to nap once at your destination, and get your meals and sleep on a "proper" schedule right away. You may still hit a point in the day when you feel like a zombie, but if you just stay active through it you should make it to bedtime.
Sep 4th, 2004, 04:11 AM
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Instead of trying to fight the effects of Jet-Lag I have found it is far better to ve preventative. These tips are from my own experience plus some from flights and cabin crews and they certainly work for 'me'.
1> A few days before your flight cut down all any kind of fatty food and dairy, you don't have to be paranoid but just eliminate foods with fat, oil , cheese, butter and milk too if possible.
2> Day of flight if having breakfast stick to bread/toast and some cereal but keep milk to minimum.
3> Take lots of water and keep eating to minimum but enough, bread, crackers and the likes.
4> Avoid alcohol totally (!)
5> Wear loose fitting easy/comfortable clothing, take a spare t-shirt to change before arrival.
6> In flight keep those crackers etc to snack on, choose the lightest meal on offer.
7> When you arrive take a long hot bath, relax, read a book.
I think the big one is avoiding alcohol and caffeine. As soon as I stopped drinking on flights I instantly discovered that 80%+ of the way I felt when I arrived was simply down to drinking!
Also get to the airport in plenty of time so stress doesn't add up.
1> A few days before your flight cut down all any kind of fatty food and dairy, you don't have to be paranoid but just eliminate foods with fat, oil , cheese, butter and milk too if possible.
2> Day of flight if having breakfast stick to bread/toast and some cereal but keep milk to minimum.
3> Take lots of water and keep eating to minimum but enough, bread, crackers and the likes.
4> Avoid alcohol totally (!)
5> Wear loose fitting easy/comfortable clothing, take a spare t-shirt to change before arrival.
6> In flight keep those crackers etc to snack on, choose the lightest meal on offer.
7> When you arrive take a long hot bath, relax, read a book.
I think the big one is avoiding alcohol and caffeine. As soon as I stopped drinking on flights I instantly discovered that 80%+ of the way I felt when I arrived was simply down to drinking!
Also get to the airport in plenty of time so stress doesn't add up.
Sep 4th, 2004, 04:00 PM
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I've also found that the jet lag going West, i.e., US-Asia over the Pacific is much easier than the return. Like Rhkkmk, getting to sleep at 2:00 a.m. upon arrival, I'm up early the next day. I don't sleep much on the flight either. I've done full days on the first day without any problem, but a 5:00 p.m. nap/pool/massage cures everything. Flying back, it takes 10 days to readjust. But, who cares, I'm home and disturbed sleep cycles can be fit into my schedule. I've seen the sights of Boston, so I'don't need to be alert during daylight.
Sep 8th, 2004, 09:56 AM
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I had read this in some magazine and it worked well for me.
On the flight out sleep per the time in India - so going out I had a flight that left the US at 11 am (I stayed up really late the previous night) then on the flight slept all the ay through to London. London to Bombay I stayed awake, and when I reached B'bay it was late night easy enough to sleep through the night. No caffeine/alcohol.
Day one its' best to just take it easy, drink lots of water - light meals.
On the flight out sleep per the time in India - so going out I had a flight that left the US at 11 am (I stayed up really late the previous night) then on the flight slept all the ay through to London. London to Bombay I stayed awake, and when I reached B'bay it was late night easy enough to sleep through the night. No caffeine/alcohol.
Day one its' best to just take it easy, drink lots of water - light meals.
Sep 8th, 2004, 06:05 PM
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I have found a deep massage helps me if I arrive into Asia at a reasonable hour. Drink water-lots of it!!!. Eat light day of flight and day of arrival. If arrive in day light walk around in sun for an hour that helps me.
Sep 13th, 2004, 12:40 PM
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I have never tried it, but some of my friends swear by melatonin, taking it daily for a week or two before the trip begins and a week before returning, continuing for another week. Has anyone here found it to significantly help? Claire
Sep 13th, 2004, 05:46 PM
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Claire, I do use melatonin and find that it helps. But don't start taking it before your trip. Here are the instructions on the use of melatonin for jet lag. (Note that about 30% of people are non-responders.)
Do not take the melatonin until you have arrived in your new time zone and it is time to sleep. When I'm flying to Asia, I usually get to my hotel well after midnight, so I take one tablet (they usually come as 3 mg, but take the smallest dose you can find), than take a hot bath and go to bed. If you can, leave heavy draperies open so that you can get some light in the morning, and do get outside into the sun as early as you can. Take one tablet each night about 30 minutes before you go to bed. As it takes your body one day for every time zone crossed, plan to take the melatonin daily while on your trip, then for a week or two after you get home. The combination of the melatonin and the early morning exposure to sunlight is the most effective combination for readjusting your body clock.
Good luck!
Do not take the melatonin until you have arrived in your new time zone and it is time to sleep. When I'm flying to Asia, I usually get to my hotel well after midnight, so I take one tablet (they usually come as 3 mg, but take the smallest dose you can find), than take a hot bath and go to bed. If you can, leave heavy draperies open so that you can get some light in the morning, and do get outside into the sun as early as you can. Take one tablet each night about 30 minutes before you go to bed. As it takes your body one day for every time zone crossed, plan to take the melatonin daily while on your trip, then for a week or two after you get home. The combination of the melatonin and the early morning exposure to sunlight is the most effective combination for readjusting your body clock.
Good luck!
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