When Does The Jetlag End?!

I use this no jet lag homeopathic tablets. I get them at Walgreens in the states.  I've used them for two trips to the UK and I didn't use them for one trip and a trip to Africa.  It made a huge huge difference.  And I don't necessarily 'believe' in homeopathic medicine!

I would recommend it. It's pretty cheap. Under $5 a box.  Can't hurt, right?

Maybe, although I really have to watch what I put into my body because I'm allergic to all sorts of random things.  I can't use travel sick pills because there's something in the pill that makes me sick, stuff like that.

I thought I had it beat last night when I stayed up late watching a DVD....no luck. Bed at 430AM DST, awake at 9. 

I find that exercising really helps me get back on track after traveling. No matter how exhausted I am, I try to get out for a walk or do some yoga or pilates. It's not always easy, but it does work for me.

I have lived in the UK for 2 years and have had perpetual jet lag that has never goen away.  When I go to the USA, I always feel GREAT.  Will be glad to go back.

Can people really have perpetual jetlag?

Because I'm trying to figure out what's going on with my fatigue.  I'm always really tired in the middle of the day, no matter how much sleep I get at night. 

My Dr. thinks I may still be adjusting, since I've only been here for 3 months. 

But my husband thinks it's due to not having a daily routine yet and not working just yet.  The more I don't do, the tired I become....and when I DO do something, it wears me out.

*shrugs*

But, to answer the "worst jetlag," I always had worse jetlag coming to the UK from the US, not the other way around.  It's actually been proven that jetlag is worse if you're going west to east.

But, to answer the "worst jetlag," I always had worse jetlag coming to the UK from the US, not the other way around.  It's actually been proven that jetlag is worse if you're going west to east.

Really?  I had no jetlag at all on the trip to the UK, it was the trip back to the US that did me in. I think I finally got past the jetlag towards the end of May. 

I agree with ColdKarmaGal; jetlag is always worse for me going from west to east.  Going to the UK from the US became bearable after a fashion, but going from the US to Asia is murder. 

No real advice here, but the really interesting thing I learned about jet lag is that when I took flights with layovers, I never had any trouble, but when I took a direct flight last time I was exhausted!  I looked it up and apparently, its not just me - having a layover can really help with the jet lag.

I agree with Becca though, I usually feel it worse coming home, BUT the "experts" conclude that CKG is actually right - it SHOULD be worse west to east.  

I think the actual conclusion is that jetlag effects everyone differently and there is no surefire way to avoid it and nothing that we can say for absolutely everyone.

I think the hubs may be right though - no routine can mess with you more than jet lag, IMO.  Here's to hoping that that job situation is cleared up super soon!

I agree with ColdKarmaGal; jetlag is always worse for me going from west to east.  Going to the UK from the US became bearable after a fashion, but going from the US to Asia is murder. 

Same here. Coming to the UK, particularly from far west in North America, always totally did me in.

My recent trips were pretty jet-lag free.  We flew to the US on a morning flight, didn't sleep, and adjusted our watches as soon as we were on board.  We were tired when we got to Chicago, but we just had an early night and woke up fine the next morning, albeit a little tired.

On the way back it was a night flight and I couldn't sleep, which was a pain.  So I just stayed up.  For about 26 hours!  We went to the pub when we landed, got to bed about 9pm UK time, and again, no lag.

Vicky

I've always asked my doctor for a small supply of prescription sleeping pills (like Ambien) to help for the first few nights on each end of a trip. No doctor has ever said no (yet!).

For US --> UK trips DH swears by avoiding overnight flights and taking a daytime flight instead. You then arrive in the UK in the early evening, then get a bite to eat and have a drink, then it's bedtime! I haven't tried this yet but it works very well for him.

Is it possible to avoid an overnight flight from the US to the UK?   All of my flights have arrived in the UK between 6am-12pm.   I bet that your DH is right, it would make a big difference to arrive early evening. 

Is it possible to avoid an overnight flight from the US to the UK?   All of my flights have arrived in the UK between 6am-12pm.   I bet that your DH is right, it would make a big difference to arrive early evening. 

The majority of flights tend to be at night (I've only ever done overnight flights US to UK), but I do know of people who have booked daytime flights instead - I'm not sure if you would have to pay more to fly during the day or not, but it is definitely possible .

Definitely possible - I took a flight from JFK to LHR that left around 6AM or so.  It was great.

Is it possible to avoid an overnight flight from the US to the UK?   All of my flights have arrived in the UK between 6am-12pm.   I bet that your DH is right, it would make a big difference to arrive early evening. 

I always arrived in London in the early morning, too. But then I generally had another 7 hours or so (including customs, immigration, getting to Paddington, waiting for a train and taking a 4-5 hour train journey) before I got to my destination, so arriving in the early evening never would have worked for me. If your destination is near a major airport, it probably would be nice!