# "Holding it", sort of. Possibly slightly TMI.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holding-it-sort-of-possibly-slightly-tmi/356431
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 11, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holding-it-sort-of-possibly-slightly-tmi/356431 "2006-05-11T22:10:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holding-it-sort-of-possibly-slightly-tmi/356431/1 "2006-05-11T22:10:01Z")
Most weekdays, I leave the house in the morning (about 7:30 am) without urinating. Long story. Then, I get busy at work and I don’t think about it. I go when I get home after work, which sometimes isn’t until about 6 pm or so. At this point, I haven’t peed since bedtime the night before, so it’s been about 18 hours.
Am I asking for any kind of trouble? My wife thinks so, but she doesn’t know what. Something kidney-related, she figures. She is also amazed at my ability to “hold it” for that long. The thing is, I’m not really “holding it”. It’s not like I really really have to go but restrain myself (dance around, etc.). I just don’t think about it because I’m too busy working.
Anyway, is there any medical/health reason I should try to avoid this behaviour? I suppose I could set up a reminder in Outlook.
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### Author:  [@samm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samm)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2006, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holding-it-sort-of-possibly-slightly-tmi/356431/2 "2006-05-11T22:35:33Z")
I just don’t think there’s any way you can be drinking enough water.
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### Author:  [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2006, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holding-it-sort-of-possibly-slightly-tmi/356431/3 "2006-05-11T22:41:25Z")
> [@samm](#):
>
> I just don’t think there’s any way you can be drinking enough water.
I forgot to mention in my original post that I generally drink a couple of cups of coffee when I get to work in the morning, and maybe one in the afternoon too.
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### Author:  [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2006, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holding-it-sort-of-possibly-slightly-tmi/356431/4 "2006-05-11T22:46:44Z")
Holding urine for a long time can bring on urinary tract infections in some people. A doctor I know calls it the “busy girl syndrome.” My untrained opinion agrees with **Samm.**
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### Author:  [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)
#### Post date: [May 11, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holding-it-sort-of-possibly-slightly-tmi/356431/5 "2006-05-11T23:11:50Z")
> [@AskNott](#):
>
> Holding urine for a long time can bring on urinary tract infections in some people. A doctor I know calls it the “busy girl syndrome.” My untrained opinion agrees with **Samm.**
It’s also possible to damage the kidneys through reflux, pressure builds in the bladder which either forces urine back up the ureter or prevents the urine in the ureters exiting causing a pressure build up in the kidneys.
Whilst it probably won’t do much damage if you don’t do it frequently, it doesn’t take long for there to be a significant drop in kidney function.
A couple of years ago I had such a drop in function through exactly this method, although the reason behind mine was involuntary (and due to a long time medical condition). Once the pressure was relieved through surgery my kidney function improved considerably.
So my tip would be don’t make a habit of it.
> [@Samm](#):
>
> just don’t think there’s any way you can be drinking enough water.
Whilst that’s probably true in this case, the healthy bladder does have an amazing capacity for expansion, albeit not infinite.
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### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holding-it-sort-of-possibly-slightly-tmi/356431/6 "2006-05-12T00:24:10Z")
Well, this explains why you’re **MrSquishy**.
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### Author:  [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holding-it-sort-of-possibly-slightly-tmi/356431/7 "2006-05-12T03:35:30Z")
I’m guessing you’re a young man.
[sub]Durn burn whppersnappers! Wait’ll they get to be my age and start planning a trip to the grocery store by first knowing where each public bathroom is along the way. grumble punks grumble gotta go whiz grumble humph[/sub]
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### Author:  [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)
#### Post date: [May 12, 2006, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/holding-it-sort-of-possibly-slightly-tmi/356431/8 "2006-05-12T03:46:48Z")
Hey, a little sidetrack but why is it that none of my female friends between 17-25 are able to hold it in? I drink plenty of fluids, and when I’m not consuming caffeine I probably urinate about twice a day, probably at least a quart or two each time. They have to go about every hour or so. Am I surrounded by a UTI epidemic or what the hell?