Hiya Everyone,
My interest in this sort of thing is probably a bit different to the rest of
yours, it's out of necessity - I'm a military fast jet pilot - the problems are
obvious! I've recently finished training (I'm 25) on an aero plane that will do
4 hours at a time, but I'm starting on a type that often does 10 hours with
in-flight refuelling. The general rule is that the blokes do these long transit
flights, but even they can't really pee whilst flying because we wear about 4
layers of overalls, including a waterproof dry suit - damn near impossible and
dangerous to try. I've insisted to be included on these long flights - equality
and all that - and need to enlarge my bladder to cope!
10 hours may not seem like too long, but with briefings you're talking 11 - 12
hrs and we have to stay well hydrated for the whole flight + the reduced
pressure high up and pressure oxygen breathing play havoc with you're body. I've
v nearly wet myself twice, once in only 2 hours (drank too much b4hand!). I've
got a fairly good bladder for a small person (5'6'') but it needs to get better
or I will end up wetting myself! At the moment I can hold 1750ml**, but that is
v painful, realistically I can only hold 1200ml whilst concentrating enough to
fly an aero plane! A mate (female) at university had a party trick whereby she
would go to the bar at 6.30 and sit on the same stool all night (11.00) without
leaving whilst drinking 9 pints - anyone beat that!?! She was 6' but must have
had a bladder capacity of over 2000ml, so it is possible. Also a male friend of
mine did a study at university on bladder capacity (human biology 1st year) and
tested 25 girls aged 16 to 23.
The results were amazing, ranging from 650 to 3120ml (that one was her best of
3, I witnessed the 3rd and was amazed. she was 16, 5'9'' ish, physically fit and
a keen sailor - (used to crossing her legs!) so it is more than possible, the
question is how? By the way, female average was 1580ml, male (similar
study)1260ml if I recall correctly.
I have a number of questions all responses are welcome.
1. There are some very big bladders out there - it is just a muscle so can be trained. I've spoken to a
Doctor friend of mine who assures me that holding it for as long as possible
will not damage anything provided you don't get hit in the abdomen. How would
you guys recommend I train my bladder? I reckon I can manage 2000ml with
training, hopefully 2500ml because then I'll be able to ignore it until the same
point that I can't hold it any longer now. It seems that I need the loo from 1/4
of total capacity, at 1/2 I'm uncomfortable but it's easily managed, at 3/4 I
get restless and it really starts to get painful - it's this point that I need
to improve to improve my "functional capacity" How am I going to try it?
2. I've done some experiments by drinking a set amount of water
every 20 mins (300ml) and recorded how I feel every 10 mins (you then know how
much was in your bladder at that time by measuring how much you pee when you
can't hold anymore then using the times noted - you can assume a linear filling
pattern so long as you spend an hour drinking before you wee and then start
timing. I've tried to put into words how my bladder feels and the physical shape
of it from feeling my abdomen. At 1750ml it sticks out by about 2 inches and
goes up to within an inch of my tummy button - but there's lots more room - think
of pregnancy - the limiting factor is the actual size of my bladder not the
space it has available. I'm sure some of you have done this sort of thing - if
not, try it. It would be very useful and interesting if you could send me your
results, especially if you have a v big bladder or re physically small but can
hold a lot. I'm sure lots of you can beat me but don't be embarrassed if you
can't. What would be very useful would be the points at which you: first begin
to need a wee; would stop the car for a wee on a motorway; begin to be
distracted by the need; discomfort turns to pain; restlessness begins; cannot
think about anything else; would not be able to drive a car; unable to walk
properly; unable to do a sit-up without wetting yourself, not necessarily in
that order. That way I can compare myself.
3. I've never actually wet myself but I think I've been very close,
both when flying and when drinking. Each time I've made the conscious decision
to wee and record the amount or, in real life, got to a toilet and been for a
very thankful and pleasurable wee. I assume that if you carry on and ignore the
pain there comes a point when despite holding it as hard as you can your
sphincter muscles can't cope and it starts leaking gradually. The pain has
beaten me first in private but if I was going to wet myself I'd hold it to this
point. What does it feel like and has anyone held it to this point in public.
I'd like to compare how I feel and consider whether I need to train my sphincter
as well as my bladder to improve my capacity. The 5 people I've seen wet
themselves didn't noticeably leak, they just let go which seems to me to suggest
that they gave up and could have waited longer if they'd wanted to. Describing
those last stages would be useful...also what do you all do to take your mind
off your bladder and to persuade yourself to wait longer...also do you find that
certain physical positions are better? I need advice on all of this. What about
drinking lots and then putting yourself in a predicament that you simply have to
hold it? Does that work?
4. Who has got the biggest bladder out there, what did it feel like,
how did you do it, have you ever genuinely wet yourself and how did it happen? I
intend to train mine to rival you - I'm working on it!
I can see how people can get into this! It would be great to receive as much
advice as possible and information on how big people have made their bladders.
Many thanks to all who respond, I don't want to wet myself in the air and then
sit in a dry suit for the remaining 5 hours - please help.
Cheers, Sarah e-mail me
PS. Does anyone have a party trick similar to my university mate's - I thought that was impressive!
** Amendment: I've made 1920ml now, still working on it!