How can I make sure I drink enough water while only being able to pee once every few hours?

Tinalovesfoods
Tinalovesfoods Posts: 65 Member
edited November 21 in Health and Weight Loss
Sometimes I do this thing at work where I can't use the restroom unless I'm on break. I start work at 3pm, break at 5:10, then another at 8:30, and I go home at 11pm. How can I drink enough water and not have to hold my pee a lot?

Replies

  • pteryndactyl
    pteryndactyl Posts: 303 Member
    Just sip during work and drink more heavily before or after? Maybe not after, unless you wanna be getting out of bed every hour...

    Why can't you go during work? Aren't you allowed to ask someone to cover you for 3 minutes?
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    I once went nine hours without peeing at work. Some jobs, you keep putting it off because there's not time. I get that.

    I remember saying to someone that I hadn't peed since I left home and could she- I was going to ask her to wait, but she was like, "Go!" :)

    If there isn't time to pee, there probably won't be a lot of time to drink, either. So there won't be a huge problem.

    Try to work in a bathroom break when you can. Holding it for hours like that isn't good for you on a regular basis.
  • maggiemay530
    maggiemay530 Posts: 123 Member
    You've gotta be a nurse working 2nd shift! We hold it 'till we're ready to burst as we're pulled 20 ways from Sunday by a needy patient or co-worker... OR we head toward the bathroom and an hour later as a bit of pee is leaking we suddenly realize OMG, I forgot!!! I gotta go!!! Meanwhile, we know full well this not a healthy way to live!

    Sorry if I'm wrong on the profession, but I can sure relate to your dilemma!
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    If you can't go more than a couple hours without going to the bathroom, you're either drinking way too much water, or you have a relatively serious medical issue.

    Drink when you're thirsty, stop when you aren't. It's really not that complicated.
  • nora_gettingfitnow
    nora_gettingfitnow Posts: 108 Member
    If you don't mind me asking, Is there a specific reason why you can't take more bathroom breaks?

    Water in the diet is important but holding your pee as a result is definitely not good for the body. What should happen is that over time your body becomes used to it and you won't pee as often anyway. At the start your body is just flushing itself out which is why you will go more frequent but that shouldnt last.

    Are you in a job where you can carry a sports bottle with you maybe and put it down when needs be but at least you can continue to take small drinks as you go along?
    If you can't get regular bathroom breaks though, there is probably no point in trying to consume more water unless you can do it in between work shifts.

    Good luck with it :wink:
  • cuckoo_jenibeth
    cuckoo_jenibeth Posts: 1,434 Member
    Nurse here, too @maggiemay530! I can attest to the bursting bladder!
    I think it is more than reasonable, in any but life threatening situations, to expect to be able to use the restroom every couple of hours! This might be something to address with your supervisor. I am sure that your "boss" would not want you putting your needs or health in any compromised situation!
  • demoiselle2014
    demoiselle2014 Posts: 474 Member
    tigersword wrote: »
    If you can't go more than a couple hours without going to the bathroom, you're either drinking way too much water, or you have a relatively serious medical issue.

    Drink when you're thirsty, stop when you aren't. It's really not that complicated.

    Many women prefer to be able to go to the bathroom more frequently. There is nothing unreasonable about wanting to go every 2-3 hours, and that has nothing to do with a medical issue. In fact, for women holding it for too long can lead to an increased risk of infection.
  • maggiemay530
    maggiemay530 Posts: 123 Member
    tigersword wrote: »
    If you can't go more than a couple hours without going to the bathroom, you're either drinking way too much water, or you have a relatively serious medical issue.

    Drink when you're thirsty, stop when you aren't. It's really not that complicated.

    Just re-read your post and looks like you are able to go about every 3 hours... It does sound like you might have an issue with urinary frequency which can signify a problem/ on the other hand you might just have a smaller bladder than mine and need to empty out more often... I drink plenty and go approx.3-5 hours without an urge to go.
  • Tinalovesfoods
    Tinalovesfoods Posts: 65 Member
    I'm confused by some of your responses. I am only allowed bathroom breaks at those times specified above! So I'm asking, how can I make it so that I can drink enough water without having to hold it for too long? If I drink a lot at one time sometimes because I get busy and then chug a lot, I have to pee within an hour. And sometimes I'll have to hold it for an hour or two which is too long!

    Also I am not a nurse :) I work at a warehouse. and it's kind of complicated and irrelevant to this topic what that is, exactly. lol anyway People always act like I am ruining their day if I ask them to cover, so if I'm just wondering if there's a certain time I can drink water during so I'll need to pee at the right times and not have to pee during the wrong times?
  • Kimegatron
    Kimegatron Posts: 772 Member
    I go almost every hour. I drink a lot of fluids. Not only do I drink half my weight in water, but I also will have coffee and the occasional gatorade. I don't count gatorade as my water intake. I have always had to go often.
  • Tinalovesfoods
    Tinalovesfoods Posts: 65 Member
    yeah! its not always that I don't get to pee enough, it's not at the right times. Sometimes nothing comes out during break and then half an hour later, I have to go REALLY bad
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  • Tinalovesfoods
    Tinalovesfoods Posts: 65 Member
    the thing is, us women are prone to utis by holding it too long! I don't want to get one
  • pteryndactyl
    pteryndactyl Posts: 303 Member
    I'm pretty sure it'll be difficult for us to tell you when to drink so you can pee when you have a break. It's a pretty personal thing and dependent on you/your body. You'll probably have to just experiment and see what works.

    Although I'd say don't chug the water down. I know when I drink a lot quickly, I tend to need to pee shortly thereafter. Someone told me once it was because my body then anticipates a bunch more water, and wants to "make some room" but whether or not that's true, IDK. But I know when I drink a lot quickly, I'll need to go a lot.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    yiptina wrote: »
    yeah! its not always that I don't get to pee enough, it's not at the right times. Sometimes nothing comes out during break and then half an hour later, I have to go REALLY bad

    How much fluid do you drink during the break?



  • Tinalovesfoods
    Tinalovesfoods Posts: 65 Member
    thank you pteryndactyl... makes sense. wish there was some science i could use to figure out the best time to drink water. ive tried not drinking any for 2 hours and then chugging about an hour before I can go.
  • Tinalovesfoods
    Tinalovesfoods Posts: 65 Member
    but that doesnt work either lol... my body uses a lot of it up i guess.
  • Tinalovesfoods
    Tinalovesfoods Posts: 65 Member
    edited July 2015
    RodaRose wrote: »
    yiptina wrote: »
    yeah! its not always that I don't get to pee enough, it's not at the right times. Sometimes nothing comes out during break and then half an hour later, I have to go REALLY bad

    How much fluid do you drink during the break?



    a lot with my food.
  • whmscll
    whmscll Posts: 2,254 Member
    OP, I would sip water throughout the day and drink more, maybe 8-10 oz, about an hour before your scheduled breaks, when you'll have a chance to go. Then drink more after work, and stop an hour or two before bedtime. Or, drink in the morning if you have an hour or so before you leave for work.

    Just know that if you drink large quantities at one sitting very little of it actually ends up in your system, most of it just goes right back out again. The best way to stay hydrated is to drink smaller amounts throughout the day.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    tigersword wrote: »
    If you can't go more than a couple hours without going to the bathroom, you're either drinking way too much water, or you have a relatively serious medical issue.

    Drink when you're thirsty, stop when you aren't. It's really not that complicated.

    I didn't know there was a limit to peeing times per day. You'd hate me. I drink when thirsty and I go every hour. No medical issues.

    The only thing that worked for me is to not drink while at work. I've had a few jobs that refused to let people use the toilet unless they were on a scheduled break. Just do what you can to be hydrated outside of work.
  • andympanda
    andympanda Posts: 763 Member
    yiptina wrote: »
    the thing is, us women are prone to utis by holding it too long! I don't want to get one

    Not just women, I Drink water like a fish, and Pee often 2-3 times an hour. No I do not have diabetes, I was tested in January.
  • Tinalovesfoods
    Tinalovesfoods Posts: 65 Member
    zyxst wrote: »
    tigersword wrote: »
    If you can't go more than a couple hours without going to the bathroom, you're either drinking way too much water, or you have a relatively serious medical issue.

    Drink when you're thirsty, stop when you aren't. It's really not that complicated.

    I didn't know there was a limit to peeing times per day. You'd hate me. I drink when thirsty and I go every hour. No medical issues.

    The only thing that worked for me is to not drink while at work. I've had a few jobs that refused to let people use the toilet unless they were on a scheduled break. Just do what you can to be hydrated outside of work.

    I've heard you're supposed to pee every two hours?
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    tigersword wrote: »
    If you can't go more than a couple hours without going to the bathroom, you're either drinking way too much water, or you have a relatively serious medical issue.

    Drink when you're thirsty, stop when you aren't. It's really not that complicated.

    I have to go every 30 minutes or so. I drink a lot! Absolutely no medical issues here...

  • Gisel2015
    Gisel2015 Posts: 4,186 Member
    shell1005 wrote: »
    I drink water like a glutton. Your bladder adjusts. For a bit you'll feel like you have to pee all the time, but then it'll get better. That has been my experience.

    I work in a job where I am out in the field a lot. So, I hold it. I don't like peeing at my clients' houses. Public bathrooms are THE WORST. So, when I have access to a bathroom....I use it and I learn the art of just dealing.

    Enjoy the holding and dealing while you are young, although is not recommended for a woman of any age. When you get much older and your hormones take a hike, specially if we had a hysterectomy, your bladder becomes too weak to hold it so any bathroom will be sufficient.

    OP, try to sip small amounts of water while you are working and as another member suggested get a little bit more few minutes before your break. Since your work schedule starts ate 3PM maybe you can drink more during the morning hours too. I feel for you, I would be looking for another job right next to the bathroom if I were in your shoes.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    tigersword wrote: »
    If you can't go more than a couple hours without going to the bathroom, you're either drinking way too much water, or you have a relatively serious medical issue.

    Drink when you're thirsty, stop when you aren't. It's really not that complicated.

    Or you happen to drink and pee a lot.
  • Kimegatron
    Kimegatron Posts: 772 Member
    At my job, they won't keep you from pee'ing. I think that is insane to tell people that they are not allowed to perform normal bodily functions. That can lead to health issues. What are you supposed to do, wear a diaper?! Heaven forbid if you get pregnant, I guess! It can effect our not ready times (call center), but they won't say "No." I am a chat agent, so if a chat is taking way too long, I will run away for 2 minutes tops. I hate to do that, but you can't avoid it sometimes. See if your doctor will give you a doctor's note saying that you have to go at least every 2 hours?
  • Jenskiski
    Jenskiski Posts: 67 Member
    I'm plenty hydrated and I typically go before I leave home, once sometime late morning and once during the mid afternoon. I drink 2 cups of coffee at home, pee, go to work and drink 2 cups of tea in the morning, pee, have lunch and one 16 oz drink, pee, have another cup of tea later in the day, and go after I get home. You just need to get your body on a schedule. I pretty much never have to go outside of that routine.
  • choppie70
    choppie70 Posts: 544 Member
    I can't believe that people cannot use the restroom at work. I teach, so I have to time my water intake so I can go when my students are not in the room. Every now and then I have to open the door to my neighbor teacher and ask her to watch my kids. I actually have a Dr. note in my personnel file that says I need to use the restroom when I get the urge because of kidney issues.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    I used to work outdoors with a male crew, and the amount of times per day I had to find a bush and squat was ridiculous!!
  • KateTii
    KateTii Posts: 886 Member
    Sip water during the day, don't guzzle a litre at once. I heard once (I don't exactly know how much truth there is to this) that your body can only absorb so much water per hour and the rest is just passed straight through. I find if I gulp down a huge glass of water, I'm busting to go in an hour, but if I sip the same amount over an hour, I'm not busting an hour after that.
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