Why do I urinate at least 2 times during the night in a Hammock

**Lakerat** · 03-16-2017, 21:52

I always had to get up on the middle of the night to pee when I was on a tent, too.

**rick417** · 03-16-2017, 22:40

Happy it's not just me. At first it was about every 2 hours, but as I get more comfortable and sleep better in my hammock, I'm down to twice a night. Also, I have been staying up later watching the campfire before turning in. About as late as I stay up when at home. Could it be you're going to sleep earlier than you're used to?

**toby414** · 03-16-2017, 23:17

Originally Posted by rick417

Happy it's not just me. At first it was about every 2 hours, but as I get more comfortable and sleep better in my hammock, I'm down to twice a night. Also, I have been staying up later watching the campfire before turning in. About as late as I stay up when at home. Could it be you're going to sleep earlier than you're used to?

That's interesting. Hadn't thought of that I usually do turn in early out in woods, like shug sometimes says I go out in the woods just to sleep for 10 hours.

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**HillbillyHanger** · 03-16-2017, 23:48

I never get up at home, but I also have to get up 1 or 2 times a night in the hammock. In my opinion, I think your bladder gets full, which requires more energy from your body to regulate body temperature. I have noticed that I will wake up a little cool. Spring from the hammock and spring a leak so to speak and then get back in the hammock where I'm warm.

**Dead Man** · 03-17-2017, 05:21

Originally Posted by SoaknWet

Only twice in one night! Sounds like heaven to me! Just wait till old age kicks in.

This thread topic + your forum name = funny coincidence.

I used to think it had something to do with less stress points or the hyper relaxed state of a hammock lay, but since sleeping full time indoors I don't have to in the middle of the night. In the woods, once during the night, anywhere between 1 a.m. and 5:30 a.m. every time I camp. The best part is getting back in the hammock and hitting that magic spot for a second sleep. Bliss on bliss (pardon the alliteration pun).

**Gqgeek81** · 03-17-2017, 06:01

Originally Posted by OCDave

Are you warm enough? Anti-diuretic hormone is produced when your body is warm. Perhaps you need a more robust underquilt.

^This. I'm not up to speed on the exact mechanism, but I suspect if you've hung around camp out doors in the cold, then your body is already changing it's water retension to compensate. So what's making you pee is already in the works long before you crawl into the hammock. Or maybe it's like the mammalian diving reflect which only needs your face to be exposed.

**dscotthep** · 03-17-2017, 06:19

Derek over at The Ultimate Hang has some interesting theories about hammock camping and peeing in the night. A lot has to do with choice of drink, and your level of activity during the day.

**JmBoh** · 03-17-2017, 06:32

I'm in this situation as well. It never fails. No matter what time I go to sleep, I 'm up around 3 or 4 am with a very full bladder. When I'm up moving around camp, it doesn't happen. Only when I'm asleep.

**Chesapeake** · 03-17-2017, 06:33

http://theultimatehang.com/2014/01/h...-make-you-pee/. My theory is a cross between this link and the fact that there's pressure on your organs different from when you sleep in a bed. That and having the feet elevated allowing fluid build up to drain plus the temperature induced bodily chemistry change and you have a recipe for peeing more often than you normally would. So basically a mix of all the factors listed above. I get frequent kidney stones so my fluid intake is vital. When I don't drink enough during the day I definetly pee more during the night. I asked my urologist this vary question not too long ago and he confirmed my theory of the different factors together being the cause. His solution was to stay hydrated during the day, stay away from caffeine at night and empty my bladder before I get in the hammock, and again before I go to sleep if I'm gonna watch a movie or read on my kindle for a while before going to sleep and to also make sure I'm not cold, so having my insulation dialed in . Nights where I to!!ow this advise, like last night, I don't wake up to pee all untill morning. But when I don't, I wake up at least twice just like you.

**captaincoupal** · 03-17-2017, 06:34

Originally Posted by Gqgeek81

^This. I'm not up to speed on the exact mechanism, but I suspect if you've hung around camp out doors in the cold, then your body is already changing it's water retension to compensate. So what's making you pee is already in the works long before you crawl into the hammock. Or maybe it's like the mammalian diving reflect which only needs your face to be exposed.

There is actually a little bit of research about this, and it's not hormone related, but rather blood pressure related. Here's an article about it, it's called "cold diuresis". Essentially the hypothesis is that your body is trying to prevent heat loss by closing off the blood vessels at the skin. When that happens, your blood pressure naturally goes up. The kidneys can then kick in and pull water out of the blood, reducing the total volume of blood in your body with the side effect of filling your bladder.

Solution - warmer sleep system.