Drinking coffee and driving

You really have my sympathy. I am faced with a similar problem. On long motorway journeys, when I am driving, I get very bored, even when I have the radio on, and my mind drifts, so to stop this I always have a good strong coffee before I leave.

Usually, this doesn't cause problems, but last year, I was dozing in the car, with DH driving when he began to feel unwell, and I had to wake up fast and take over. DD offered me a bottle of PepsiMax, she had accidentally bought and I drank that.

It certainly woke me up, but within about 15 minutes I needed a loo, and with no service station for miles, I had to come off at the next junction and find a bush, then at the service station then at another junction. Not only that, but it affected me for about 2 weeks after the event. Our whole weeks holiday was governed by my need to always be close to a loo.

Yes, caffeine is definitely a diuretic, I think all you can do, other causes excluded, is work out what the best balance is for you and coffee, may be one cup of coffee only, or one cup of coffee and one cup of something else. I now know that my limit is one cup of coffee and I will, never, never, ever again, consume a caffeinated soft drink.

Caffeinated coffee is only a mild diuretic unless you drink it very strong. One cup of ordinary coffee really should be fine, if you’re not worrying about being caught short in a traffic jam? The other option is to take it with you in a travel cup, and drink it when you arrive.

Not sure how old you are (you don't have to answer) but could you be starting with prostate problems?
Of perhaps get a urine check at the GP surgery to make sure it's not a water infection.

But yes, coffee is a diuretic.
Decaffeinated coffee is not.

You have my sympathy. I went through a phase of needing the loo frequently a few years ago and journeys were a nightmare. One in particular in which we were moved onto another section of the motorway unexpectedly and there was no hard shoulder. Everywhere we went at that time seemed to result in being stuck in traffic jams. I then switched to decaff tea and coffee. I do have one cup of caffeinated coffee a day which I need to wake me up though but not if we’re travelling anywhere. I wonder if taking a caffeine tablet instead of a cup of coffee would result in feeling awake but not needing the loo? I do carry caffeine tablets with me in case I ever find myself overwhelmingly tired. I think it takes half an hour for caffeine to kick in. I saw something once that said if you were very tired when driving you could pull over somewhere, have some caffeine, sleep for half an hour and would wake up refreshed. If I have caffeine late in the day I’m awake all night. It’s only when you stop taking it that you realise what an effect it has on you.

Casdon

No, it’s a regular poster Bea65.

One cup of coffee in the morning actually helps me focus if I’m on a long journey, which I frequently am as I live three hours drive from my parents, and I never stop on the way. I don’t think one cup would normally make people desperate for the toilet in less than an hour at least, Cumbrianmale56, I wonder if it’s anxiety about the drive that is affecting you?

There is a section of the A595 to Carlisle that has two long sections of roadworks and this is where the urges have kicked in, It's not pleasant and is a valid question to ask especially if you're driving for over an hour.
I think maybe one weak coffee or a tea might be better and to avoid the A595 at the moment, and take a slightly longer route to Carlisle. Also drinking two strong cups of coffee could be causing the anciety as well as the urge to urinate.
To the person who said I'm a troll earlier on, I've been on Granser for 2 years and this is a particularly valid question for older people who drive.

Peppermint tea can soothe the bladder and is a pleasant drink.

Coffee can irritate it and better to wait till your journey is over before your first cup.
Water not good either as passes through quicker than other drinks.

Indeed, Ziplock!

Apologies but think we all know coffee is a diuretic and best to have water in car…
Poster says already had 2 near accidents so …why the question

No, it’s a regular poster Bea65.

One cup of coffee in the morning actually helps me focus if I’m on a long journey, which I frequently am as I live three hours drive from my parents, and I never stop on the way. I don’t think one cup would normally make people desperate for the toilet in less than an hour at least, Cumbrianmale56, I wonder if it’s anxiety about the drive that is affecting you?

Great minds, Wheniwasyourage 😁

Bea65

Message deleted by GNHQ

This poster has posted before Bea65, so I don’t think he’s a troll.
I suggest just water Cumbrianmale56, and perhaps not just before you set off on a long journey.

Cumbrianmale56 has been posting for a while, Bea65. It seems to me to be a reasonable question.

Would plain water not be better than coffee perhaps?

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