Dave,

[blue65coupe]

Why is it that when you're driving down the road and have to pee, the pain is almost unbearable the closer you get to the known restroom? You know, the first urge to pee and the restroom is 30 minutes away....no problem. The first urge to pee and the restroom is 3 minutes away and it's everything you can do not to soak your floormats. Why is that?

 

[Midlife]

The Law of Diminishing Returns?

 

[sigtauenus]

To piggyback on this question, why is it that when the issue goes beyond just urination, the sphincter muscles start cramping up and threaten a catastrophic SAS valve failure?

 

[crustycurmudgeon]

I've thought about this too. It's as if your brain tells your bladder exactly how long it'll be before relief arrives and you get exactly that amount of time. If you reach the bathroom and it's occupied, God help you!

Frank

 

[daveSanborn]

I've been trained to not urinate and can "hold it" almost indefinitely.


http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/marines/a/marinemess.htm


Although it's not mentioned in the above article, during Mess Night, once you are seated there are NO pee breaks. It's a "mind over matter" thing.