crefloors

I have problems on the return, always. I don't have much problem going and really the only thing I notice is awaking very early the first few mornings. I am prepared now. I have some tennies and some sweats and go out walking for an hour and then start my day so by the time I get myself together, I can go out and get coffee or what ever.

I'm exhausted for a couple of days, nodding off in the middle of the afternoon when I return home.

So, I think you're pretty normal Peg so just take it easy until you're back on track.

dreamon

I have up to a 30hour journey from my home town in Australia to anywhere in Europe. I'm also one of those people who can't sleep on flights. I loathe the flight, to be honest. With regard to jetlag, I find that going TO Europe is no problem - but much harder coming home. I put this down partly to the adrenaline of being in a new and exciting place. I always try to stay awake - at both ends - until a 'normal' bed time and find that helps.

di2315

I'm with you, dreamon - I'd love to get to Europe in 11 hours!

I also find coming back to Australia is worse - swollen ankles, sleep disruption etc that I just don't get on the way over.

Our last few trips we've organised flights that arrive in Sydney around 10pm - straight across the road into a warm shower and hotel bed at Rydges seems to do the trick very nicely! And a perfect touch of luxury to finish the holiday.

Di

Pegontheroad

Jet lag definitely bothers me more when I return home. It lasts for days. At first I just don't feel well, in addition to being goofy, awkward (dropping stuff, hitting the wrong keys when I type), etc.

When I travel to Europe, I need a nap, but I feel more or less normal otherwise. Occasionally I'll feel unwell the first day, but after that I'm pretty much okay.

The time difference between Spokane and Frankfurt is 9 hours. My body knows that.

Trophywife007

For this latest trip, Mr. 007 and I took melatonin (6 mg) for several nights when we arrived in Europe and then again when we got home. It seems to help us sleep through the night while we are adjusting to the new time zone.

My sister and BiL also said that it helped them.

Adelaidean

As the other Aussies said, our long haul is seriously long (just endured a 14 hour flight, a 3 hour layover, then a 6.5 hour flight). We have just arrived in Italy and while the excitement seems to help, I always wake at 2 am for a few days after arrival. The return is much worse, though, west to east plays havoc with my body clock, plus a bit of post holiday blues, perhaps.

bvlenci

I often traveled between New York and China, 11 hours difference, and never had jet lag. I'd arrive, be met by some officials, have a meeting where I talked about statistics and other arcane stuff, get taken to dinner, and not even yawn.

Now that I'm older, I find that I'm fine when I travel to the US, but when I return to Europe, I tend to have three or four nights when I wake up at 3 AM. I put it down to age, and I see that others agree with that assessment.

I've tried the melatonin, which is also supposed to help prevent migraines, and it didn't help either the migraines or the jet lag.

annhig

The return is much worse, though, west to east plays havoc with my body clock, plus a bit of post holiday blues, perhaps>>

The worst jet lag I've had was after our 27 hour east to west trip home from Sydney to LHR; the 9 hour HK to Sydney leg wasn't too bad but the 12 hour Sydney to London flight was sheer torture and it took me a whole week to start to feel human.

Gwendolynn

My last trip to Europe was RT on the QM2. No jet lag but it took a few days to adjust to solid land ! If I had my druthers that's the way I'd travel all the time.

suze

You are NOT the only one!!!

I suffer *horrible* jetlag for Seattle/Europe trips. Both directions! It's worse coming home but I'm not sure if it is actually physically worse, or just since the trip's over I sink into it more without the (positive, fun, amazing) distractions of being in Europe.

But heck, I get jetlag when the time changes one hour for daylight savings time so I know I'm a wimp in this department.

Trophywife007

I think that jet lag is not as bad flying back home for me (west) but there's always a let down -- psychologically -- after a trip.

I've found this to be true even on work trips where we are gone for a week and then return home... postpartum depression lite is how I've come to think of it.