Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Flying out at the end of the month.
Stopping in bangkok for a 2 hour transfer.

Having never flew anything like this distance, i'm not sure what the best strategy is to reduce jet lag on arrival.

Flight Sets off from Heathrow at 21:50 arriving in Sydney 06:25

Therefore what advice could you give to me in terms of when to sleep and when to try and stay awake as long as you can ?

We also have a 4 year old with us

Thanks for the help

Stu

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Hi there,

We found sleeping through the first flight and staying awake during the second helped a lot. Also staying up for as long as you can the day you arrive really helps as you're going to bed at a near normal time that evening so you don't muck up your body clock.

Before I read the bit about the 4 year old i was going to suggest valium!! We both took some last time as neither of us can sleep well on a plane and end up getting stressed just from tiredness. With the valium, even when we were awake we were so blissed out we didn't care!!:thumbsup: and out of all the family that went over we had the least jetlag.

good luck!

Therese :D

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Wear yourselves out during the day that you fly so that you zzz off as soon as you have had the first meal (or as soon as wheels are up in my case, usually) and try and sleep until you get to the meal before Bangkok. Should be easy because they dim the lights and close the curtains. Walk around a lot and stretch in Bangkok then try and sleep after the meal out of Bangkok until you wake up. You arrive early and then just keep on going until you can go no longer - I usually make it to about 7pm then I conk out, go to sleep and wake up in time with normal Aussie time. Personally I choose not to believe in jet lag! Sheer and unadulterated exhaustion yes but jet lag, no. Flew with both my kids when they were about 4 and they found it easier than I did, slept well every trip and took it all in their strides.

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

We've just been over with our 3 year old and 1 year old and it is very tiring. We slept when we could on the plane (when the kids slept) and when we arrived there and back here we just let them sleep when they wanted to (which in both cases meant all afternoon, most of the evining, waking in the middle of the night for food, fed them, then back off till morning) Felt great the next day in Oz but took 4 or 5days back in the UK to adjust.
When we flew to Bangkok we tried to get up in there morning and fit in with the time difference...just didnt work, the kids were terribly crabby and took days to adjust so i would recommend just sleep when you need it.

Hope all goes well for you.

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

I found that after about three hours of arriving in Oz, I get dreadful shivers and feel really cold.

Then I sleep because if I dont I actually feel dizzy and then I wake up at stupid oclock wanting my breakfast at dinner time and vice versa.

It lasts about a week as a rule.:eek:

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

I get too excited to sleep on flights, I want to look out of the window all the time. Especially after the sunrise I saw off the east coast, spectaular.

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

I agree with some of the earlier posts. I try and sleep as much as possible on the first leg then have a quick shower before boarding for the second leg which tends to refresh me. I try to get as much sleep as possible on the second leg and then stay awake as long as possible when I arrive (I make sure that I can have access to my hotel room and a shower as soon as I get there - I'd hate to have to wait until 2pm to check in when my flight lands at 6.30am).

Last time I was in Sydney I spent part of the day at the beach (wave jumping - which seems to be a national obsession in Manly!) and this activity kept me awake. I never normally manage to get beyond 7pmish but find that the next day is near normal.

The key with jet lag is to try and adjust to the new time as soon as possible so, no matter how hard you find it, try and stay awake throughout day 1 (you will probably lose the ability to string a sentence together by late afternoon though!).

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

I get it pretty bad when I fly east - sounds similar to PP's actually as I can go dizzy with it. Some good advice above, particularly about changing your watch as soon as you board the plane, and try to sleep as close to destination night time as possible.

In my circle of friends, a lot travel for business and swear by Melatonin, but it's not recommended for people with autoimmune disorders so I haven't tried it.

I know you can't get Melatonin in Oz (as I recently took some for a friend) so get it before you travel.

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

It's prescription-only in the UK. Can get it over the counter in the USA.

I've not heard of the autoimmune contraindication - could you pls provide any scientific links? Cheers :thumbsup:

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

The slurred speech is hilarious and I remember getting the hysterical laughter in a shop in Landsborough. I knew what I wanted but I just coulnd't say it:rofl:

For me when I need to sleep it is impossible for me to stay awake, I have even nearly fallen over on the train as I thought standing up would keep me awake - wrong!

I get so cold, dizzy and the last time I went to Oz I felt sick. Even a power nap is something but its quite scary how you can fall straight into a deep sleep and wake up so suddenly you dont know where you are.

The worst jetlag was going to Brisbane and also flying back from Canada.

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Hmm, now where did I read it? I have so many medical books....I'll try to find it and get back to you.

(Can buy Melatonin OTC here, but until a couple of years ago you couldn't buy nurofen!)

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

No good to you now as flight is booked, but we've done the trip a few times and 1st we arrived at 11am. By the afternoon we was all falling asleep and it was a mess adjusting.

The 2nd we arrived in the evening and after a chatter with friends who picked us up, we all hit the sack and tomorrow was another day!

I had to go back to the UK recently and wasn't gonna go any other way but arrive in the eve for these reasons.

End of the day you just have to hold out and STICK to sleep patterns where you are! Your body will be wondering what is goin on, but falling asleep in the arvo will NOT help!

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Don't expect to overcome the jetlag on the first day or two ... says he sitting at his PC at 4 in the morning after getting back into Melbourne yesterday ...

Best regards.

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Hi Stu,

When we flew in may for our reccie we flew with virgin and all flights were night flights - so are yours from the looks of it:thumbsup:

We watched a few films then had a sleep on both flights - we stopped off for 1hr in hong kong - We both never suffered from jet lag at all..........We got straight off the plane in sydney into our rental campervan and drove for 6 hours before finally resting up!!:blink:

The only time we got jeg lag was the return flight from oz to uk.........that seriously messed us up because we essentially seen the same time of day twice due to time differences............Does'nt happen going to oz........or at least not for us.

Hope you have a good flight.:thumbsup:

P.S. we had a 2 year old and he slept most of the time so he was also fully refreshed on arrival to oz!

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Hi Alan

Glad you made it to Melbourne safely, but remember if you did struggle with your cases I did offer to carry them for you.

Don't forget to chase up my meds clearance please, I am itching to get my house on the market but need confirmation of my visa first - just in case :-)



Caz Beckham

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Thanks Caz. We had Roger Federer and his g/friend on our flight from Dubai to Melbourne too!

I'll be following up your medicals when I'm in the office again on Monday.

Best wishes.

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Many Thanks Alan

Look forward to perhaps a positive resulting email from you on Monday.

Have a great weekend - by the way just in case you wanted to know, it's pouring down here in Cambridgeshire.


Caz Beckham

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

When we came over we tried the staying awake as long as possible thing but had 4 days of jetlag. We just had visitors who we kept going until about 2.30pm then we let them nap for 1 1/2 hours and woke them up and took them out for a good walk and dinner until a 'normal' bedtime (around 10pm) and they were fine after the first day. There has to be someone around to make you wake up though.....

Lou
xx

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

I've heard it takes a day for every hour of time difference, and I've found it can take that long (in my case a week) to feel totally with it after the annual UK trip. Or maybe that's just getting over the trauma of time spent with my family...

(Ozziedoc, I can't find that melatonin/autoimmune ref in my books, but it's all over the net, and we know the net never lies :D )

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

No alcohol and plenty of water on the fight.

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

You may not suffer it - we never have either coming this way or going back the other way. Alcohol is daft when flying, it dehydrates you too much. Lots of water is good. Just be sensible and if you do get it, take it very easy when you arrive.

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Agreed, but you still see plenty of eejits getting off their faces because it's "free". I'll have a glass of wine with dinner at most, but drink water every time they bring it round, even if I'm only marginally awake. Can't vouch for other airlines but I've noticed recently that SIA does not come round so much with booze (although you can request more) but brings round water regularly, even through the night.

The longest I do these days is 13 hours. I don't envy anyone doing the UK-Oz trip straight off; we did it once for a holiday, although the good side was we missed Christmas Day completely. :)

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Hi .. done the UK -Oz trip many times ... as with a couple of the previous posts the best advice I can give is stay awake until as close to normal bedtime in Oz as you can ... avoid napping in the afternoon unless it's only 15/20 mins ... no more ... you feel shitty if you doze any longer.

We find eating dinner about 7/8 pm the day we arrive means we zonk out soon after, may wake up a bit early the next day ... but you feel fine ...

Re the comments about no alcohol on flights, don't agree with getting trollied but a few drinks help me sleep as I'm not a movie watcher there's bugger all else to do ... there's only so much you can read

Haven't been in BKK recently but if there are showers or even better a pool (like Singapore) avail yourself of ithem ... it's very refreshing ... as is the Singha beer if you haven't tried it before ...

Also find same works flying East to West

Hope it works out for you ... Cheers ... David

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Thanks - I'll do a athens search :)

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

I used BKK's new airport for the first time this week. It's nice and shiny but Changi it ain't! Not a lot going on as far as I could see. I guess it's a work in progress. I'm not sure if there are showers outside of the lounges, but there is a Novotel on site.

Ozzidoc, would be grateful for anything you can tell me.

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Hi Stu,

For every one hour of time difference it takes 1 day for the body to adjust. With a 4 year old I think your sleep will be governed by when she sleeps.

On arrival at Brisbane we have a 3 hour drive which we usually make, unpack then crawl into bed for a couple of hours just to take the edge off and then go to bed at the normal time.

It's not so bad going but returning is a nightmare, we are usually up at 3am in the UK and everyone else is asleep. Walk the dog and wait for the early morning papers at the local shop or garage to arrive to read with breakfast.

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Will keep you posted - am running searches right now :)

OK - not that many papers, only 106. (We often have thousands.)

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

I use plenty of (medicinal) champagne, which helps me to rest until the next meal.

It's each to his own: some don't even *get* jet lagged. lucky souls....

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

We've now got a trip back booked for June/July time. Only two weeks so if we suddenly start suffering jet lag we're stuffed:lol:

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

We've done 4 trips to Aus before, and we've generally never suffered too much. Certainly never had any of the symptoms list here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_lag#Symptoms

But then I'm pretty good with sleep and can go without a nights sleeps if needs be. I can't sleep on a plane anyway and I love watching all the films. The Mrs on the other hand is terrible and needs her 10 hours 'beauty sleep' or she's stuffed. In fact she's asleep on the sofa now because we had friends round until gone midnight.

The worst I find is my bladder control! No matter how quickly I get my sleeping patterns in line, I'm still getting up in the middle of the night to take a leak, which then disrupts my sleeping pattern. I'm not sure if there's anything you can do to force your bladders body clock to chance though?

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Self catheterisation? ;)

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

:D

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

My friend has just had a visit to the uk from oz and they have three children aged 7, 4 and 18 months. She has made the trip a few times and really struggled with the jet lag but this time she took the advice of a friend and bought sleeping pills for her and her husband and gave the children anti histermine. She was horrified at the thought of doing it but she said that she had to admit it was the best flight they have ever done.
Unfortunately, being a very nosey person, I've got no chance of sleeping with or without sleeping pills :rofl:

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

You have to be careful with kids and phenergan (antihistamine) - if you dont know what impact it has on kids then dont use it. It used to absolutely hype one of my boys up no end so instead of sleeping he would be bouncing off the walls! It is OTC though if you want to go down that route and are prepared to try it first.

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Sounds silly but don't wear a watch, don't refer to the time back in th UK, focus on the time where you are.

This worked a treat. We did not suffer at all. Arrived early hours of the morning and slept until about 10.30. The first few days we slept in in the mornings but thats it....no other problems both ways.

By the way I can't sleep on planes so just read a lot and watched films etc.

Cx

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

You're one of the "fortunate souls" then <g>

The article is interesting and brings up the point about polar flights: jetlag via say Alaska is horrendous! Depending on the time of year you might take off from London in the morning, fly North until the sun sets behind you then, near the pole the sun rises but soon after, due to the meridians passing quickly, sets again before rising again as you fly SouthWest over Alaska. You land at breakfast time the same day and can't remember your own name!

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Better to need the loo than not need it because you're dehydrated. I do try to drink a lot of water on planes (and drink about 3l a day normally) but I still think maybe my jetlag dizziness is due to dehydration.

moneypen, you bring up a point me and the mister were discussing yesterday. Currently we only take 9 days including travelling to do our annual rellie visit from Singapore (he only gets 15 days a year and we like a few hols). We're not going to manage that if we move to Oz, are we? :( Is 2 weeks really doable? We stay in 3 different locations from one end of England to the other. We've yet to find out how many days holiday he'd get. :)

Actually it's probably irrelevant 'cos we won't be able to afford holidays if we move to Oz. :lol:

Re: Advice on reducing Jet lag
 

Simple answer? Don't know:D All my family and friends are in Herts. Hubby's mum and step dad are down in Dorset so most of the time we'll be in Herts with a few days down south. Lots of friends in other places but if they want to see us they'll have to come to us. Hubby isn't coming with us because if he takes time off he won't get paid and he doesn't want to anyway. We're doing two weeks because of the school hols and I really don't want to be there any longer than that:lol: