My birth control time zone panic attack
Okay so picture this – landed in London last month for work, totally psyched until my pill alarm screamed at 3am local time. Had this full-body freakout realizing my routine was wrecked. Jetlagged brain started calculating risks like “if I took it Chicago time is that double dose territory?” Barely slept that whole night.
First thing next morning I literally ran to the pharmacy near my hotel. Slammed that pack of pills on the counter like evidence at a crime scene. Pharmacist took one look and goes “again love? Fifth traveler this week!” Handed me an alarm clock shaped like Big Ben saying “set this bugger to your pill time and ignore your phone clock”.
The nightmare week that followed
Tried being good soldier – popped pills exactly 24 hours apart on London time. By day three though, my stomach staged open rebellion. Felt like swallowing angry bees after breakfast. Started experimenting:
- Breakfast pills: Made me wanna puke on the Tube
- Lunch pills: Got dizzy during client meetings
- Night pills: Woke up sweating, convinced I’d missed three days
Finally cracked and called my gyno back home at 4am London time. Got her sleepy “can this wait?” voice explaining:
“Your ovaries don’t care about daylight savings honey! Just pick one damn time zone and stick to it!”
Survival tactics that actually worked
Month-long trip turned into a birth control science project. Here’s what finally clicked:
- Stuck to Chicago time using that ugly clock – felt stupid but worked
- Set backups like my watch vibrating plus sticky notes everywhere
- Weekend emergency plan: carried next pill in wallet behind ID
The real game changer? My local mate told me to buy cheap pregnancy tests monthly anyway. Best £6 I ever spent – each negative was like winning Olympic gold.
Final proof it worked
Got home yesterday, my gyno confirmed everything’s fine. When I showed her my travel pill spreadsheet she actually laughed till she choked on her coffee. “Overkill much?” she says, then scanned the document nodding slowly – “actually…brilliant”. Might frame that spreadsheet honestly.
