I may stay dry enough not to spot trousers through Jockey shorts one day,
then half-soak a pair of Depends the next day. Too many variables to trust
myself anymore, and I'm at 8 months now after a surgery with zero KNOWN
complications (there must still be some unknowns, just as there were until
Walsh discovered the nerve bundles in the '80s). So, for me, the issue is,
"How SURE do I need to be today?" If I need to be certain -- restaurant,
shopping, office -- it's a Depends. If a leak's no big deal (e.g., mowing
the lawn), I may wear much less protection. Day at the beach? Swim
suit/board shorts and get in the water often. The "dryness" comments I've
seen in most sources usually say something like "under normal
circumstances", allowing leeway for physical exertion.

I.P.

You are "dry" when you don't need to wear pads.  Unfortunately, whether
or not you feel you have to wear pads is to some extent up to you, so
the definition is ultimately personal towards the end.   You can try not
wearing a pad and see what happens.

One thing to keep in mind is that men who've never had prostate surgery
probably get a few drops of urine on their underpants after they
urinate.  That is particularly true of older men who suffer from BPH.
Yet such men don't consider themselve incontinent.  Because of your
experience, you may still consider yourself not quite continent in the
same circumstances.

I consider myself continent, but I still ocasionally have a problem.
With only one sphincter, it may sometimes not be possible to get to the
bathroom on time.  Also, I have to be careful after I urinate not to
drip on my pants.   On occasion, when I know I will be someplace where I
won't be able to find a men's room for several hours,  I will wear a pad
just for security.  It is rare that I have to use it.  So perhaps I
should describe myself as continent with an asterisk next to the word.
In any event it is not really a big issue in my life.   It sounds as if
you are close to that point if not there already.

Hi Ron:
   How was Vegas?
   When I was diagnosed in my research I found it odd that Hopkins reported
something like 97% of men "continent" after one year, and Harvard reported
something around 50%.  Turns out, of course, that Harvard classifies a man
as "incontintent" if he has to wear a pad at all.  Hopkins considers one pad
a day guys like us "continent".  Not sure the definitions mean much.  Even
the one or two pads a day are not really meaningful I do not think.  For
example, you probably saw my post a couple weeks ago when my wife told me I
was not changing my pads soon enough.  I figured if the pad was not leaking
it was okay.  Now I change more frequently, more like three pads in a 24
hour period, but the leaking is really no different.
   So again, this is a moving target.  In the end I guess "dry" means "dry"
= no need for a pad.  Wear a pad, and you are not "dry".  Before the surgery
you were "dry".  After the surgery you are a faithful Depends supporter (or
did you say you switched to Serentiy?).
   Hope you enjoyed your vacation.
David

P.S.  Someone here suggested that I carry some plastic zip lock bags to put
soiled pads in if I was at a friends home and did not want to leave it in
the waste paper basket.  That worked out for me.  I was able to discretely
make my way to put it in my car.  Deserved or not, I felt embarrased to
leave it in the tiny flowery plastic trash can in the bathroom.

When I first reported "dry" about June 2001, I meant dry, dry.  During my
ordinary day, I had no slips or leaks.  If I recall correctly, while moving
furniture I always risked a leak, especially if I wasn't thinking about it.
And, for a short time, sexual thoughts caught be by surprise.

Now, I guess my standard is more like "moist".  When I'm having a good time
or period of time, I don't leak so much that my briefs aren't sufficient.  I
have to use pads for golf and thin pads every once in a while on a day that
I just don't seem to be able to control myself.