Yes, It's true for all the longhaul guys.
On average my monthly roster means 8 days of lost sleep.
It's not just the long flight but jet lag and sleeping pattern.
Example :- Saturday night to Bed at 22.00 awake 8.00am Sunday relax pack bag go into the city.
back to sleep at 14.00 , too much noise, too light, or just can not sleep.
18.00 time to shower and change 19.00 pickup 19.40 arrive at Airport for pre-flight briefing pushback at 21.10 local . arrive Madrid 0950 (local Buenos Aires time) and only 3.5 hours away from the controls trying to sleep in business class. now 14.50 Madrid time post flight paperwork,customs, Transport to hotel arrive at hotel 15.50 Madrid time. Dead to the world by 16.10.
Wakeup 23.00 Madird Time, Can not sleep any more restless the rest of the night make breakfast at 9.00am by Mid afternoon sleepy but try to stay awake , get a good night's sleep next day up at 8.00 back to bed at 14.00 can't sleep to much noise too much light 18.00 shower and changed pickup 19.00 arrive at airport 19.30 preflight briefing pushback ............ I guess you get the picture..
And this 4 times a month, sometimes back to back with only 30 hours off duty inbetween flights.