Feeling Lousy After a long flight

[JohnK]

We've had this discussion many times. Call it jet lag, call it whatever you like but it affects everyone differently.

I hit the ground running in Thailand and feel no effects on the body whatsoever. Returning to Australia and I could be out of it for up to a week. Doesn't make a difference if flight is morning, lunchtime, afternoon or evening red-eye.

I get on board with a headache and a hangover.
That way I don't feel any worse when I arrive.

You're much tougher than me.

 

[ausfox]

We've had this discussion many times. Call it jet lag, call it whatever you like but it affects everyone differently.

I hit the ground running in Thailand and feel no effects on the body whatsoever. Returning to Australia and I could be out of it for up to a week. Doesn't make a difference if flight is morning, lunchtime, afternoon or evening red-eye.


You're much tougher than me.

I had my first Kangaroo route flight to Europe in 1972 down the blunt end but with enough seat pitch to accomodate my190cm frame.
I have transitted through catching Cognac when the lights are dimmed to flying sober, with sleepers to knock me out.
The only way is to start the trip in a lounge, preferably F, and as it is international lounge time, a glass of Champagne or two. Something to support this, maybe from the carafe of the day or just to the aircraft for more bubbles.
This needs to be supported by tomato juice with some additive as you align the menu with the wine list with the Bordeaux or similar. Finishing with cheese and a sticky.
With a couple of hours sleep you wake up feeling like cough, just like all of the alternatives but you have at least enjoyed yourself for a few hours.

 

[Berlin]

With a couple of hours sleep you wake up feeling like cough, just like all of the alternatives but you have at least enjoyed yourself for a few hours.

I'm with you there- my usual approach these days as well (though I prefer a Scotch over a cognac)!

 

[k_sheep]

I always have a headache after flying. No matter how much sleep I get, how much water I drink, how little booze ... brain just doesn't like it. Never been able to pinpoint the cause.

 

[OZDUCK]

The trip that should have really knocked us about was returning to Perth from Halifax Nova Scotia.

- Out of the B&B by about 0830 and part of the day spent walking around town. Off to the airport in the afternoon.
- A 2 hour flight to Toronto with a 7 hour wait for CX - about 51/2 hours in the lounge.
- A 15 hour flight to Hong Kong - I can't do more than doze on a plane even in lie flat seats.
- 10 hours in the 'Pier' lounge where my wife got a few hours sleep in the quiet room. Again I was awake. (we couldn't be bothered going into town.)
- 8 hour flight to Perth - delayed on the tarmac for about another hour due to storms. Luckily we arrived just before midnight so off to bed at a 'normal' time.

We were tired for a few days but nothing too bad. Really I normally only just feel tired not really poorly after long trips - unless I arrive with the flu of course.

 

[sydunipete]

Going to work straight after a long haul red-eye seems to help. I must admit I haven't tried staying sober - what a novel concept.

Otherwise - just time. I reckon it takes about a day per hour timezone difference to adjust, some trips much less but I can find no rhyme or reason as to why.

 

[Berlin]

Going to work straight after a long haul red-eye seems to help. I must admit I haven't tried staying sober - what a novel concept.

Otherwise - just time. I reckon it takes about a day per hour timezone difference to adjust, some trips much less but I can find no rhyme or reason as to why.

Staying sober is overrated in any case, I agree. Try to avoid the straight into the office thing but had never thought that it might actually help

Yea, sometimes it just works much easier but you never know before (and it’s not East-West vs. West-East as many people claim- that’s well and truly tested and debunked for me personally). Arriving on a holiday in an exciting location can sometimes do the trick for me but also not always. Endless overnight flights with a screaming toddler close by and potentially even a multi hour connection in between usually does the opposite.

 

[juddles]

Flying is cough. cough cough cough.

You can divide those that do it into those that have to and those that want to. If you have do do it, it is cough. If you want to do it, then you have a slim chance of enjoying it, as the excitement of the holiday, SC, or whatever it is can help. But the pure physical experience of being locked in a tube for many hours, with the second whammy of that delightful time change, is obviously just harmful to your system.

In the era of such things as the 787 MAX failings, I now start each takeoff thinking "If the plane is going to crash, can it please do so now and save me even more hours of pain".

Not saying i'm jaded......

 

[luxury-lizard]

Simple answer(s) from me - we travel a lot overseas, thankfully in the pointy end - we both suffer from jetlag no matter what the destination. But going easy on F&B on board and getting exercise on arrival (e.g. long walk in the sunshine / daylight); however, my preferred arrival time is evening so you can go straight to bed and exercise in the morning. Drinking lots of water both on board and for the next day or 2 seems to help. I usually take a sleeping pill (Normaston sp?) the first night as I feel if you don't get a good night's sleep the first night it can be deadly.

 

[spiggy_topes]

Having travelled from Australia to the UK direct five times in economy last year (yuck), I now have a routine to cope with getting there. May not be to everyone's taste but it works for me.

1. Arrive in the UK a day or two before any meetings. For instance, if the first meeting is on Monday, I try to arrive Saturday.
2. Take a flight that arrives mid to late afternoon. Arriving at Heathrow at 5 am is always the pits - and the hotel room is never ready for you, despite what they promise!
3. Go to bed around 7 pm, expect to wake up around 4-5 am.
4. Get out the next day for a long walk. Gatwick is handy for the North and South Downs, and there are lots of trains that will take you to most places in the south of England. The combination of exercise, sunshine (if you're lucky) and fresh air is a great way to reset your body clock. Finish the walk with a pint or two.

I've spent a fair amount of time in all classes, and I'd follow this routine for all of them. First is nice and you do feel like you can function relatively normally the morning you arrive, but you'll still be fading by the afternoon. Business and economy - just don't expect to feel human for at least 24 hours after.

Doesn't seem to work as well the other way unfortunately - I resign myself to waking up at 3 am for a week or so, and try not to stress about it.

 

[clipped_wings]

I think the anticipation of a holiday provides enough adrenalin to get me through the outbound journey. But conversely - the homeward flight is always tinged with an element of sadness and I feel cruddy for a week after.

For work related flights - I do not have a solution, because that holiday joy doesn't apply. But when I'm not firing on all cylinders, I do find a few puffs of a Ventolin inhaler opens up my airways and allows me to take in a little more oxygen.

 

[maia200]

I hardly sleep on planes so tend to watch movies or read a book until I fall asleep and sleep on then and off for about an hour or two. On an 8hr generally don't sleep at all, no matter what time of day/night. I always book a hotel room for the day I arrive (so the night before) if arriving early to make sure I have a room, then pass out for about 4 or 5 hours. Then get up, shower and go walkabout or whatever. I find this works for me and still sleep well at night. If I arrive in the evening, do a walkabout, have a nice dinner, then straight to bed. Coming back to Australia is always a jet lag problem, no matter what I can never get it right and the jet lag lasts about a week.

 

[nathrek]

Modafinil on arrival to keep me going through the day (particularly through the 2-4pm jetlag slump) and then a melatonin at night to get me to sleep. 2nd day, half a modafinil when I wake up and then a melatonin at bed again. After that all good, body clock is usually set to the destination time.

 

[marki]

Modafinil on arrival to keep me going through the day (particularly through the 2-4pm jetlag slump) and then a melatonin at night to get me to sleep. 2nd day, half a modafinil when I wake up and then a melatonin at bed again. After that all good, body clock is usually set to the destination time.

How do you get Modafinil?

 

[Magoo]

I must admit I haven't tried staying sober - what a novel concept.

That does seem rather extreme...do I have the courage to try it?

Modafinil = prescription only.

 

[tdimdad]

I always have a headache after flying. No matter how much sleep I get, how much water I drink, how little booze ... brain just doesn't like it. Never been able to pinpoint the cause.

Any chance it might be related to the altitude (cabin pressure)? Have you been up to any mountains and felt all good or would they trigger something similar in your body?

 

[marki]

That does seem rather extreme...do I have the courage to try it?

Modafinil = prescription only.

Easy to get ? The Modafinil?

 

[marki]

Any chance it might be related to the altitude (cabin pressure)? Have you been up to any mountains and felt all good or would they trigger something similar in your body?

This is a good question might altitude sickness in some form or the other!

 

[Justinf]

All depends on what I do after the flight for me.
If I go straight home then I am screwed for days on end.
If I go straight to work or one day, I went straight to our cricket ground and played cricket all afternoon, then I am usually fine even the next day.
The day I played cricket, I got there five minutes before the game started, bowled 12 overs (quite well mind you) and had a coupel of beers after play and went home and straight to bed.
Woke up the next morning fine.

 

[harvyk]

<snip> - the homeward flight is always tinged with an element of sadness and I feel cruddy for a week after.
<snip>

I'm the same, for me though it's always that final leg from MEL / SYD / BNE to CBR. I hate the waiting around for that final short hop, and I hate the landing in at CBR, as I feel a tinge of sadness that my trip is over.

Ironically I still get that feeling even if I'm only home for the weekend before travelling again the following week.

As for how flying makes me feel? I love it, whilst I do get tired, especially after overnighters or crossing many timezones, I will happy line up for more.

Personally I think if you're jaded about it, perhaps finding a new job would be in order. There are many jobs out there which do not require going near a plane.