Jetlag

Subject: Jetlag
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 05:30 PM

Daughter is flying to the States soon (from UK): any tips for avoiding jetlag very welcome. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Help: Jetlag
From: InOBU
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 05:33 PM

Try to sleep on the way over, it is worse going from the UK to the US than the other way around, possibly because you tend to loose a night, you get a 48 hour day, generally, GOOD Luck! Tell her not to drink alcohol on the flight either... Cheers Larry

Subject: RE: Help: Jetlag
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 06:21 PM

I suppose one way would be to start living on Mudcat time for a few days before she goes, so the jetlag would be sorted out before she went.

So instead of it being just past 11 at night right now, I'd see it as getting on for six, and in another four of five hours I should be thinking of getting to bed - and then I shouldn't be getting up till way after noon.

You know, that's more or less the kind of schedule a lot of young people have already. So if your daughter is like that, all she'd need to do would be when she gets to the States start going to bed around midnight, and getting up for breakfast.

Well it sounds easy enough in theory.

Subject: RE: Help: Jetlag
From: InOBU
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 06:37 PM

There is also the dehydration on the plane, drink lots of water and juice, that is why you avoid the strong stuff, that actually dehydrates ya. Cheers Larry

Subject: RE: Help: Jetlag
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Mar 02 - 06:50 PM

Exercise and sunlight are the keys to resetting your body's clock. It doesn't have to be MUCH exercise, moderate walking will be sufficient. When your body is telling you it wants to sleep, but the sun is shining, THAT'S the time you need to be outdoors going for a walk. That means, after traveling eastward, do your walking in the morning, and after traveling westward, do it in the late afternoon, before sunset. This probably works better in the summer when days are long.

Don't bother trying to sleep if you're not sleepy, but do force yourself to get up when there's daylight.

Subject: RE: Help: Jetlag
From: Wyrd Sister
Date: 28 Mar 02 - 03:05 PM

Duly despatched with advice. Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Help: Jetlag
From: Mrrzy
Date: 28 Mar 02 - 03:41 PM

Get NO sleep on the plane. I used to have to go from Boston to Bandkok (a 12 hour difference)... the trick is to stay COMPLETELY awake for hte full 36 hours of in your daughter's case, the full 24+time diff which I think is 8 hours right now, and go to sleep at a reasonable time at the night where you are. No matter how exhausted you get, DON'T GET ANY SLEEP till it's night where you end up. THEN go to bed at some reasonable hour, like 8 pm, and when you wake up in the am you will be reset by the sun. But if you get even a snatch of 1 mn nap, this doesn't work. AND it's MUCH easier to do going TO Europe from the US, because of the longer day. Coming here the trick would be to go to sleep early enough to be on time, so I'd recommend staying up the night before. You have to have the exhaustion or it doesn't work, but if you do, it will work in one night.

Subject: RE: Help: Jetlag
From: BK
Date: 28 Mar 02 - 11:15 PM

Many people say some melatonin helps a lot. You can (in some places) buy it "otc" in health food stores & drugstores ("Boots The Chemist," etc, in UK). The only problem I'm aware of is, at least in the US they generally sell doses that are way too high. As I recall, (I'm a little sleep deprived from being "on-call") at least some studies have indicated that about 0.3 to 0.5 mg is what gives the best benefits & probably little side effects. Stores here in the US tend to sell 3 mg or 5 mg pills. Also check w/your physician before using it. I've gotten several good articles about melatonin by internet searching last year - not sure where I put them. Have a look, & good luck.

Cheers, BK

Subject: RE: Help: Jetlag
From: Bert
Date: 28 Mar 02 - 11:19 PM

That bloody McGrath guy hit the nail on the head. Don't you just hate people who are that smart;-). All I can add is DON'T GIVE IN TO THE URGE to take a nap during daylight hours once she gets here.

Subject: RE: Help: Jetlag
From: Hrothgar
Date: 06 Apr 02 - 11:54 PM

How do you get them up for breakfast, McGrath?

And can this theory be used for other occasions?

Subject: RE: Help: Jetlag
From: Bugsy
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 10:17 PM

Mrrzy, you are spot on. I used to travel a lot between Australia and UK and never suffered from Jet lag. I used the same system as you and it always worked great. You are so right when you say DON'T TAKE A NAP DURING THE DAY. Once you start that you'll be up all night and sleepy all day for a week or more.

Good luck and I hope it works for your daughter as well as it always worked for me

cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Help: Jetlag
From: Bugsy
Date: 07 Apr 02 - 10:23 PM

Whoops! Just realised how old this thread is. Well, that's what happens when you only log on once a fortnight.

Hope your daughter got by without the "lag"

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Help: Jetlag
From: freda underhill
Date: 09 Sep 04 - 05:12 PM

....jetlag.....is a way of life. i read this thread too late and had a nap yesterday avo - now I've been awake all night (its 7.11 am in sydney) and i'm due in at work soon. aaaagggghhh!

freda

(v. jetlagged)

Subject: RE: Jetlag
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 12:48 AM

As a very frequest flyer I always try to get an isle seat so I can get up and move around. The down side is you do have other people trying to climb over you.

The inside of a modern a/c is pressurised at the equivalent of 8000 feet above sea level. They cannot make it sea level as the body of the a/c would then have to be made very heavy.

Being at a non sea level altitude cause the body to loose fluid more quickly so drink plenty of water. The effects of alchohol are increased by the loss of atmosheric pressure, so lay of too many drinks.

I agree with the no sleep on arrival unless you are actually arriving at a reaonable time of the evening.

Subject: RE: Jetlag
From: JennyO
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 12:56 AM

So we'll just have to keep you up late tonight, freda. Now no sneaky afternoon napping before I get there, or I'll have to send nurse ratched to wake you up!

Jenny

Subject: RE: Jetlag
From: freda underhill
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 01:15 AM

eek! no! not her! anything but that!

thanks frank - I'm just going to have a big drink.

ps .. 3.15pm. just woke up.

Subject: RE: Jetlag
From: JennyO
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 01:18 AM

Wot happened to work???

Subject: RE: Jetlag
From: freda underhill
Date: 10 Sep 04 - 01:50 AM

..yes, wot?