Do you find that you have to pee less frequently if you use a heater?
Posted by brainhack3r@reddit | overlanding | View on Reddit | 14 comments
Okay, I know this seems like a really weird post. 😄
It turns out there's this thing called cold air diuresis. Basically, your body produces urine at a higher rate when it's exposed to cold air.
The problem is I'm really trying to optimize my sleep because I've been really suffering from insomnia, and I'm literally under doctor's orders to fix this.
I'm in a 24/7 overlanding setup so I sleep outside every evening, and I do notice that I have to get up 2-3x every night to pee. When I was living inside, I felt like it was more like 1-2x.
I have a potential solution: I could buy a really expensive camper and install a diesel or propane heater to see if it works. That would cost me about $15,000, and I still am not sure it will work.
The thing is, I actually don't mind sleeping when it's cold and I kind of like it, but I'm not going to do it if it literally jeopardizes my health.
It looks like if I buy something like the SuperPacific X1 with their installation, I could probably get away with two to four nights on an 11 lb propane tank.
I guess I just have to travel with three propane tanks. I think that's doable.
Comfortable-Story-53@reddit
Core temperature.
brainhack3r@reddit (OP)
huh?
Comfortable-Story-53@reddit
Core temperature. If its high, more blood to the extremities. Low, blood stays more central, also circulating through your kidneys more. Which creates more urine.
Fantastic-Chard-7022@reddit
Yes, I have diuresis during cold weather. Issues don’t occur during Warm weather .
brainhack3r@reddit (OP)
You guys actually gave me an idea... the problem is that it's the air you're breathing.
https://timmermade.com/product/sul-waterbear-v2-climashield/
So this is basically a balaclava that you cinch down to form a heat exchanger so that you pre-warm the air before you breath it.
No propane/diesel :)
It's an $85 experiment.
Also, my throat is SUPER dry in the morning due to the cold air and this helps humidify the air.
ricardopa@reddit
Happens when I dive too - it’s a natural reaction in your body
zpollack34@reddit
I’d go for a diesel heater over propane. Dryer heat and safer. Plus fuel is easier to come by and denser. Like half a gallon over 12 hours of medium high. Inside a camper like a super pacific that’s probably even too much. So you’ll burn very little diesel. Also if you’re by yourself, get a pee bottle. Keeps the potty breaks quick so you can get back to sleep quicker.
brainhack3r@reddit (OP)
The pee would work if I had a stand-up camper. Right now, since I’m not standing, it’s irritating my bladder and leaving it kind of bruised.
I'll eventually figure it out, but right now I'm in a nightmare scenario.
Like, everything is happening all at once. I'm already urinating a lot because of the high altitude, and my body is still dealing with adjusting to it.
bob_lala@reddit
hmm. I find I have to pee less bc I sleep better when it is cold and I am also more reluctant to leave the warm bag.
brainhack3r@reddit (OP)
In your situation, it might work because if you don't actually have to pee the whole night, your body might not ever come into contact with the cold.
However, I think what's happening for me is I have to pee at least once, which then triggers the second time.
Ah, it's a nightmare, man
The_World_Is_A_Slum@reddit
Yep. The warmer I am, the less I have to pee. Even a wool blanket in the bag with me lets me sleep better.
brainhack3r@reddit (OP)
Apparently, it's just the air, though, so if you touch something metal or even if you breathe that, that can trigger it.
It's a super weird phenomenon. I didn't even know it was a thing.
In fact, Native Americans in the arctic sleep with wolverine fur around their face to keep them from breathing in cold air.
Apparently, wolverine fur won't gather frost. So you can breathe right through it.
Unfortunately, I'm all out of wolverine fur. :-/
The_World_Is_A_Slum@reddit
I’m early 50s, and it feels like I’m up all night when it’s below about 35 outside. When you get your next wolverines in, you mind sharing?
I like to stay well hydrated, and sometimes I’ll intentionally go to bed thirsty. There has to be something other than wolverine fur that won’t soak your face overnight.
brainhack3r@reddit (OP)
Apparently coyote fur does it too, but I haven't tested that. You can buy jackets that have coyote fur on the edge of the hood.
Although now that I think about it, maybe synthetic fur does the same thing.
The idea is you're supposed to trap your air before you breathe it so that it comes in warm.
And honestly, maybe the thing you want is not to heat the whole trailer, just the air that you are breathing in.
I feel totally warm, but apparently even having your hand touch the side of your truck or breathing in cold air can trigger your kidneys to produce more urine.