To be worried that jet lag shouldn't be this bad?

[HazyBarbara]

Been back a week from NZ and I still feel terrible with earache and sinus pain, thumping headache and can't sleep beyond 4 am. Is this normal? Any advice?

Sounds like an ear infection rather than jet lag. I get sore ears when flying long haul because of the pressure. Pop to the GP to have them checked out.

As PP has said, that's not normal and sounds like an infection. I've done that trip dozens of times and usually feel very tired in the evening for a week afterwards, but never any other symptoms.

Aside from waking at 4am, that isn’t jet lag. Go to the doctor!

Thanks, sounds like the tiredness is normal though for a week.

Tiredness - yes. It took me longer than a week to feel back to normal energy wise, but there shouldn’t be anything wrong with your ears.

Having done that trip so many times I've lost count I estimate a day for every hour - 11 hour time difference = 11 days to feel completely normal again. Sounds like you have an ear / sinus infection - hope you feel better soon

With regards to tiredness and disturbed sleep, they say it can take one day for each hour of time difference to fully adjust. But I agree, the other stuff sounds like you are ill on top of jetlag.

Earache and sinus pain is not jet lag

An hour a day is normal to recover from jet lag although there are things you can do to help. Earache is not part of it though.