Help please! For the first time in my life I am stressing out about a future flight.

Have to explain some boring but necessary details first: I am well travelled and even worked for an airline for 7 years (not on planes), am from London but have lived in the US for the past 8 years. I have never once slept for even five mins on a flight, tried but usually gave up. Not worried about flying 99% of the time but I've never really enjoyed flying over the ocean in middle of the night feeling like I'm the only person who's still awake! Anyway, I am moving back to the UK this November with my American husband and American dog and cat. Have to check in very early with animals, am dreading putting them in crates, have to go through lengthy customs/health checks with pets upon arrival (takes hours apparently) then have to drive down to Kent coast, (used to be easy when I lived in London). Also have a couple of minor health issues that are greatly excerabated by lack of sleep. So, this time I really have to sleep on this flight! My dilemma is the only thing that's preventing me from taking sleeping pills - for the first time - is more anxiety about deep vein thrombosis! I also take birth control pills which apparently ups the risk a bit. Other than that I'm pretty fit and not overweight.

Any handy tips would be greatly appreciated!

Wow, I can sympathize with a lot of what you've said,

And, I don't think I can help a whole lot here, but I'll give it a try to the best of my limited ability.

First, I share the same affliction as you--I simply can not sleep on planes. I do not know why this is. For the last 9 years, airplane flights are nothing but "bus commutes" to me. I have no anxiety about flying. I am more at ease on a plane than in my own house. Nevertheless, I can not fall asleep on airplanes. So, I can not help, but only sympathize with you there.

As for the rest, I would suggest getting an aisle seat so you can get out of it freuqently and take walks up and down the aisles. Stretch and stress your muscles regularly while in the seat (isotonics?)

But most importantly of all...get with a physician whom you trust and have a connection with. Resolve the DVT and sleeping pill issues with him or her. This is a team effort, and if you do not have a physician that you have a personal relationship with, FIND one. I can not overemphasize how important this is. You really need a medical professional to work with you on a plan that will work for you.

I am in no way trying to say that you have serious issues or that you have trivial issues. I am only trying to say that the advice you need will not be found here on FT. It will not be found in a routine visit to a physician that you hardly know and that hardly knows you. Go to someone you trust and who knows your situation.

And, best of luck to you, your hubby, and all of your critters!

I am certainly no expert in these matters, but I do have a suggestion for what it's worth. Since you know you aren't going to get any sleep on the flight, why not try and get as much extra sleep as possible in the days leading up to your trip. Sleep in as late as possible on the day of your flight. That way, even if you get no sleep that night on the flight, it won't take such a toll on your body. Then take a long relaxing nap when you arrive if you are tired.

I don't know if this will solve your problem, but it may alleviate it a little. Hope you have a pleasantly uneventful trip.

I don't know how soon your trip is coming up, but the advice above of checking in with a doc that knows you is sound.

Something he might consider is giving you a prescription for ambien, a short-acting sleeper with minimal if any hangover effect in most patients. If you are the one doing the driving with the animals on arrival, it would be important to test it out at least several days before the flight, e.g., at home, to see if you have side effects, and make sure you'd be fit to drive and think, and to get the dosage right (though what you need at home may be different from in flight worrying about your 4-legged babies). You could start with a 2.5mg dose (lowest), if that does nothing then 5mg might help, some people need as much as 10mg for effect, depending on body mass and tolerance. Some people take one dose right after dinner, sleep, then if they wake up mid-flight take a second dose (or half a dose). By the time you land in Europe it's worn off. This approach has worked well for me and others I know with the same flying insomnia problem.

As for the DVT issue, this is grossly overblown, even with birth control pills on board, unless you've previously already had a DVT and are not on blood thinners. Go to the bathroom and walk around for 5 minutes after dinner is served, then sleep;, when you wake up walk around 5 minutes again, or stretch legs and calf muscles in seat. Sleeping a few hours is not likely to cause a problem with the vast majority of people. Only a miniscule fraction of people get DVTs flying but of course they get all the press from the "Scare Sisters" in the media.

thanks to those who replied to me. I think I will go with some 'medicinal assistance' on the flight and perhaps put my feet up on my husband or something!

I do sympathize with you. Have you flown with your pets before? I am wondering if this is the source of your anxiety. I have flown a lot and am not afraid of flying. However, since I started flying with my dogs in cargo, my anxiety level went through the roof! To some, they are animals to others, they are like four legged children with speach impediments! I worry a lot about them and they are always alright. Talk to the person who is in charge of your pets and feel comfortable with them. Also ask the person at the gate to ensure your pets are on board before you board. You can usually see them loaded.

Also, the transfer of pets doesn't take that long. Just make sure you have the proper papers with you.

Funny, for years I could never sleep on the plane and now I almost always passout during take off and wake up as soon as we are in the air. Good luck to you on your trip!

What about looking for a daytime flight? There are several to London - from Chicago, NYC, Boston... Leave at 8-10AM, arrive London around 8-10PM. Stay up the night before if you want to, go to bed at the "normal" UK time.

Might be easier on the animals, too.

Hi - thanks for those two most recent posts! Yes, I was quite interested in a day flight but it just didn't work out, alas. The govt. in the UK is ultra fussy about what route/airline you travel on. They used to have 6-month quarantine law for about 100 yrs that has recently (finally!) been updated. No quarantine now provided that all your masses of official paperwork is in order. Only a few carriers have an approved contract with the govt. for this. So we're flying on Virgin from DC to LHR in November so at least I won't have to worry about the weather being too hot.

I think I often worry myself into such a state about things that eventually my brain can't take anymore and I eventually start to calm down! Thanks for all the advice though. And I will ensure that all of us are successfully loaded onto the same plane before it leaves!

Welcome to FT Jules. ^

If you don't want to use a sleeping pill, per se, try something like a Tylenol PM. Also, take melatonin for a few days before and after your trip. It helps with jet lag.