10g melatonin, Benadryl and as much wine as the attendants will let me have. Alcohol does make me pee, but I use the bathroom right after dinner/just before tucking in for the “night” and haven’t had an issue. Also, this is not a fail-safe solution; sometimes I just don’t sleep well despite the plan and I just have to deal with it.
On the way back to North America I don’t sleep at all so that when I arrive in afternoon/evening, I’ll be ready to sleep at normal bedtime. I look forward to those flights to watch allllll the shows.
I’ve always had a miserable time on red eyes because I can never sleep, but on my recent flight to Ireland my aunt gave me an ambien and I got 4 hours sleep in the middle seat in coach. It was amazing and I was able to comfortably power through the next day.
Post by MixedBerryJam on Jul 17, 2023 18:55:18 GMT -5
I have a terrible time on flights bc I have a lethal combination of not being able to sleep on them and claustrophobia. I have tried every gizmo, gadget, or meditation out there and nothing helps.
Post by imojoebunny on Jul 17, 2023 21:07:25 GMT -5
Just try whatever you plan to take before you go. Some guy on our flight to Ireland recently had clearly taken something, and it did not have the desired effect. He was a mess. They had to move him to a “special” seat. I just have two glasses of wine, eat the carb heavy dinner, put on my mask and ear plugs, hope for the best, and plan to drink caffeine and go to bed at 7pm when we get there the first night.
I just don’t sleep, unfortunately. I have always been a light sleeper, and have never been able to nap (I was the one kid at preschool who had to sit on their mat and looks at books during nap time because I couldn’t sleep even then!). Even when I worked night shift, I would come home and only sleep about 2 hours after being up for over 24 hrs. On our 9hr red eye earlier this summer, I closed my eyes and just tried to rest. 2 of my kids couldn’t sleep at all, either. Once we got to London, we just stayed up and all of us went to bed about 8pm. Woke up at 8am the next morning and didn’t have any jet lag. On the way home, we chased daylight back, and none of the 5 of us slept. Just went to bed at normal time.
Ambien is not always great because some people have odd effects and sleepwalking etc. this happens frequently on planes especially when mixed with alcohol.
I took Zzzquill when I flew to Australia and it was perfect. I boarded, did meal service, took two pills and slept for 8 hours, up and chatted with my adorable Aussie seat mate for a couple of hours and we landed 6am AU time. Once my friend and I got through customs and navigated the trains, we showered at the hotel and stayed up until 10pm that night — and were effectively on Australia’s time the first day.
Post by doctoranda on Jul 17, 2023 22:09:48 GMT -5
I take dramamine for motion sickness and then a cocktail in the first round of drinks. I usually sleep about half the flight. I then take a 1 hr. nap in the early afternoon after arrival (when flying to Europe) and I am jetlag free on day two (most often).
Just try whatever you plan to take before you go. Some guy on our flight to Ireland recently had clearly taken something, and it did not have the desired effect. He was a mess. They had to move him to a “special” seat. I just have two glasses of wine, eat the carb heavy dinner, put on my mask and ear plugs, hope for the best, and plan to drink caffeine and go to bed at 7pm when we get there the first night.
Yes! A friend gave me ambien to take on a 15 hour leg (there were 3 other shorter flights. ugh). I woke up, went and puked in the lav, went right back to sleep. It could have been so much worse! I've only taken it one other time, at home, and 14 hours after, tried to drive to an appt, and turned right the fuck around. I was totally inebriated still. I tried to skype the appt, but we agreed to reschedule.
My sleep meds I've taken for years so know the effect if I have some wine with them (not much of anything tbh). Often I'll have a glass or two with my meal. Which is usually an hour or two before the med.
Lay flat beds have given me some of the best sleep. There's just something about that little coccoon. And probably the constant refills on wine. I don't take a med on those rare occasions. No need!
I don't. I can remember staying awake for a 28 hour travel time that started as an evening flight out of SFO to Asia. Same for an SFO to Africa trip. Meds/alcohol have made me nauseated or hyper. I just write off the first day or two of any far flung trip.