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Old January 26th 07, 03:31 PM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
Tony
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Posts: 312
Default Preparing for a XC : Bathroom Breaks

Would anyone who has had a beer or two before going to bed care to
discuss renal functionality at night?

Kindneys work at, among other things, maintaining bp and internal fluid
balances. If you're not taking in fluids, for example when you're
sleeping, they do have less to do. The point being made earlier is,
restrict fluid intake, not fly while sleeping.

The QED of that is to look at what goes on with patients who are given
fluids IV. Your model of lesser night time renal function would suggest
the collection bags would not get as full at night. The nurses aides
working the floors at night will be really happy to know that.

Here's another demostration that literate writing can sometimes mask
ignorance.



The reality is renal function has everything to do with

On Jan 26, 6:25 am, Mxsmanic wrote:
writes:
Drink A LOT of water between around 4pm and 5pm - more than I wanted
to. Then sip very small amounts for the next 4 hours. I found I needed
to relieve myself quite a few times for the first 2-3 hours, then less
and less so. Then go to bed. I reliably did not need to get up in the
night. No doubt the physiology is different for night vs day, but I'm
betting the same method would work for flying (although I haven't tried
it).Renal activity does indeed slow during sleep, so you produce less

urine during the night than you do during the day, all else being
equal. Urine production steps up again as you approach the morning
and your usual time for waking up.

However, the procedure you describe is entirely reasonable and will
help avoid nighttime trips to the toilet. If you drink more water
than you need, your kidneys will usually remove it in 2-3 hours at
most. After that, you will simply be fully hydrated, and you won't
produce an excess of urine unless other factors (like caffeine or
cold) intervene.

A consequence of this is that sleeping in the cockpit would allow you
to go longer without a full bladder, but unfortunately this has other
undesirable effects.

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