passing in user id to retrieve user data after login

[eluser]skunkbad[/eluser]
When the user logs in, or when you are checking that they are logged in, this is a good time to retrieve a user ID from the database. I assume when the user logs in, or when you are checking they are logged in when they try to access a page, you are checking the contents of a CI session or cookie. It's at this time when you know who they are, and this is the time to get the user ID.