Can't Sleep on planes: Help please!
 

Hello everyone. I'm a newbie here, but i was checking out the site and I'm impressed with how friendly and helpful everyone is here, so hopefully you can help me out...

A little background: I have to create an "invention" for a class I'm taking, and I wanted to come up with something based on a problem that i have: I can't sleep on airplanes no matter how hard I try because of the noise around me. I've tried earplugs, and they are just too uncomfortable. I've tried those new noise cancelling headphones, and I start banging the hard plastic sides against the window.

So I was curious to see what other people do, and what they like or don't like about the products they use. So a few questions I'd love to get answered are below to help spur your thoughts. Thanks in advance!!!

-How often do you travel and how long are the legs of your flights?
-Do you have a hard time sleeping, and if so, what is the major problem (noise, light, temperature, comfort)?
-What type of products do you use, and what do you like/dislike about them?
-Have you tried the noise cancelling headphones? What did you like/dislike about them?
-If you could modify or create a new product to help you sleep, what would you want it to do?

Thanks again everyone!
Mark

While not quite the answer you're looking for, I too have a problem sleeping on planes, but my issue is not noise, it's sort of paranoia.

Let me explain.

I fear sleeping with my mouth open, with drool running down and just looking like some kind of alien in public. I also worry about "something" flying into or being placed in my mouth while sleeping (Think college pranks).
On top of that, light and movement around me is bothersome. Noise is not an issue, because I can't stand the sound of silence (yeah, I know) and I sleep with a radio on anyway. I don't like eye masks because I don't like the feeling or pressure on my face from them.

Need to invent some kind of breathable bag that covers your entire head, blacking out the surroundings while keeping your face area, safe and private.

I have exactly the same problem as EngIceDave. I am totally paranoid, I'm going to fall over onto the shoulder of my stranger seatmate with my mouth open, snoring and drooling. There is a neck collar that goes completely around the neck that is supposed to help with this but it looks so uncomfortable. It's called the Komfort Kollar. I just purchased a First Class Sleeper cushion that gets mixed reviews but I'm going to try it out on my next TA trip.

I don't know about wearing a bag over my head, however...

I forgot to note that I use noise isolating earphones. I wear earplugs regularly and have no problem with them. It really depends on the tips you use. There are many different tips that are very comfortable. There are also earphones that have active noise canceling. Noise canceling alone doesn't do it for me because while it deadens the airplane drone, it amplifies conversation and other noises, to me at least.

I also cannot sleep on airplanes, but not because of paranoia or drooling - lol. The fact is, I just cannot sleep sitting up. I have to be horizontal. I know of no product that will fix that short of paying for a first class ticket on a flight with lie-flat seats (and that is very, very rarely an option for me.) If anyone can come up with a viable solution, I would be grateful.

I take one 10mg Temazepam tablet on long haul flights just after the meal service. (It is a prescription sedative medication and I only use it on overnight flights)

It works wonders - I dont go into a deep sleep but certainly sleep quite well and I find the jet lag is also reduced.

Last summer on an 8 hour overnight flight from ATL to EDI, I took a 10mg Ambien I got from my doctor with dinner and fell asleep pretty fast. I was using soft foam earplugs. I have found that the smaller bright yellow plugs available in the gun shops or sporting goods section of the local Wal Mart are very comfortable, and reduce the sound level by about 30 decibels. I was in the window seat, and was able to put my pillow up against the window and lean into that.

It was the first time I had been able to sleep on a plane in 41 years.

I basically can't sleep on planes but it's not something easy to fix. My problem is that I pretty much can't sleep on my back, period. Since there's normally no other possible position on an airplane I normally get no sleep.

The noise is the main problem for me.... so I use the same earplugs that I use for competitive shooting... they are made by injection molding and are thus a perfect fit in the ear canal..... (of course they have to be replaced every so often as the aging process causes the ear canal to change shape)

They cut out virtually ALL outside noise... and yet (to me) are comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time....

Add to that a great little product called "Restavit" (a non prescription sleep aid) ... and (sometimes) an eyemask and I can generally get some sleep....

These earplugs are available from audiologists.. but you'll pay a huge premium that way... get them from someone who does them for gun clubs as a "sideline"! ;)

I have a terrible time falling asleep - I have to be exhausted. I have not yet tried prescription sleep aids.

When I have to sleep - red-eyes, or very long flights - I use a blanket, a neck pillow, eye mask, and a glass of wine or 2. I use noise reducing headphones - not the huge ones, I have earbuds - and listen to relaxing music. This usually works, at least for a little while.

I use 10 mg Ambien, ear plugs, and eyeshades. Usually good for 6 to 7 hours of sleep.

A seat mate of mine used Ambien. FIve hours in he got up from his seat and did something rather embarassing and had to be lead back to his seat. Some people react strangley to that drug. If the flight is at night and 8+ hours I take two Tylenol PM about 2 hrs prior to takeoff and don;t eat anything on the plane.

My shooting earphones are electronic and amplify small noises and cut out loud ones. Instead I use the Bose headphones turned on but nt plugged in to anything.

Invention sugestion: eye shades that aren't so annoying!

Sleeping
 

I could never sleep on long flights until I tried Dramamine. One pill at dinner and at least 6 if not more hours of sleep for me. Hooray!

After years of practice I can really sleep on planes. I have to be wearing comfortable clothing and be the right temperature. Thanks to wise folks here on FT I now fly wearing IceBreaker wool clothing (in all seasons). I am so much more rested!

Noise doesn't bother me, but I need good eye shades. I pay plenty for good ones.

I also prefer to wear a hoodie so that I can keep my head warm.

How about inventing a hoodie with eye shades?

I bring a change of clothes, loose fitting sweats, have a glass of red wine, noise canceling head phones, eye shade, my own little down pillow, and now I take a Rozerem 8mg. when dinner is served and when finished I am drifting off and have a delightful sleep. I used to take Ambien but left me with a bit of a hangover which Rozerem does not.

Sam

Every one is an individual so solutions that we use don´t work for all.
In my case I use Midazolam (sold as Dormicum here in Argentina) 7,5mg or 15mg depending on the lenght of the flight.
All my flights are more than 10 hours.
I think Midazolam is the wonder drug, I could never sleep before.
Now things are much better.^