Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pdx]

I'm leaving soon, and I'm wondering if anyone has any advice about bad jet lag/airsickness.

My flight over here was perfectly fine. I had all of the normal jet lag stuff (couldn't sleep, just adjusting to time difference). No problems.

However, now I'm going back the other way - here to the States - and I'm thinking I might have something worse this time.

When I was in high school I flew from the States to London and had bad jet lag- throwing up/nauseous, etc (this resulted in the nice family joke of me puking on some British guy's land while he came down the gravel road to go to town).

Does anybody have any known cures for this- or ways I can get around it? Even if you know of something I can pick up at a pharmacy here before I leave- that would be cool.

I fly to the States, and then make a connecting flight home and the last thing I want is to be puking on the plane.

[RACETRAITOR]

Going back that way gives you worse jetlag. All I can say is sleep on the plane if possible and make sure you're not doing anything too important your first couple days over there.

[pdx]

how about sleeping pills? I can never sleep on a plane.

I'm actually flying from Tokyo to LAX.

[robin1]

Different strokes for different folks.

Some of the things that have worked for me in the past:

Try sleeping on the plane (I know, no easy feat)
Drink lots of water, don't eat the food
Take sea/air-sickness tablets, not sleeping pills (which can be hit or miss)

Above all, a rested mind and distraction on the plane. Goodluck.

[pdx]

A friend suggested that instead of sleeping pills, taking something like a nyquil. But does that have the same stuff?

Maybe I will take the drowsy medicine I have (an allergy thing) and just try really hard to sleep on the plane.

[peppermint]

There's a 12 hour time difference between home and ROK, so I used to get brutal jet lag, never made me nauseous though. Can't reccomend melatonin enough for it. It doesnt make you drowsy or anything, just helps the body reset its sleep/wake schedule. A tablet the night before I travel, one about night time at the destination (while on the plane) and one before bed once I arrived.

[OiGirl]

Take sleeping pills/allergy antihistamines you are familiar and comfortable with. This is not the time to try something new!

I usually take some Dramamine I with me for emergencies, but the side effects are almost worse than nausea for me.

Asia > NA is never as awful for me as NA > Asia.

And I would certainly schedule things to do the first few days. Maybe not mission-critical things, but a reason to get out of bed in the morning is the best way for me to get my body back on track and adjusted to local time.

[SuperHero]

[wylies99]

Drink A LOT of water on the plane, then plan to sleep for 3-4 days. I'm talking "Herman Munster in a coma" kind of sleep.
Make sure you have some good vitamins, too.

[tacon101]

[Tokki1]

One word: ambien

[pdx]

[peppermint]

Haven't been in Korea in about a year, but I bought it at one of the pharmacies in Itaewon. I did have to ask the pharmacist, might be worth trying one of the local pharmacies first

[Jizzo T. Clown]

This may be obvious but set your watch to the time zone where you're going as soon as you get on the plane and think like you're already on that time. If it's "daytime," drink coffee to stay awake. Fight the urge to sleep unless it's "night time."

Use NyQuil (the tablets, since liquids are banned) to catch some z's. Incidentally, inflatable neck pillows are a godsend. Melatonin's great for the first few days after you've landed.

I agree that you should avoid the food--all that sodium will dehydrate you and the food will expand in your stomach. Try to bring granola bars or other light snacks. Eat a good meal after you land.

This may not work for everyone, but it's certainly worked for me.

[wylies99]