AboutStephen W. Leslie, MD Expertise Questions concerning erectile dysfunction, kidney stones and prostate disorders including prostate cancer. I have a special interest in kidney stone disease prevention.
Experience Full time practicing urologist with 20 years experience. Assistant Clinical Professor of Urology at the Medical College of Ohio. Editor in Chief of eMedicine Urology internet textbook. Author of only book written for patients by a urologist on the subject of kidney stones "The Kidney Stones Handbook". Inventor of the "Parachute" and "Escape" kidney stone baskets and the "Calculus" stone prevention analysis computer program.
Organizations American Urological Association, Ohio State Medical Association, Sexual Medicine Society
Publications Men's Health, Journal of Urology, Urology, Healthwatch Magazine, Emergency Medicine Monthly, eMedicine, "The Kidney Stones Handbook", and numerous articles in various newspapers. He is also the editor of the Urology Board Review by McGraw-Hill used by urologists to study for their Board Certification Examinations.
Education/Credentials Graduate of New York Medical College with residencies completed at Metropolitan Hospital New York, Albany Medical Center and University of Wisconsin-Madison
Awards and Honors Thirlby Award of the American Urological Association.
I have had a fear of kidney stones ever since my friend got them. No one in my family that I know has had them, but during high school I had a poor diet, drank lots of caffeine and in college I drank my fair share of alcohol.
I also have very bad anxiety and I have panic attacks based on my health. Sometimes I will feel a sharp but brief pain while urinating and I get scared. I also get the fear when I have back pain or side pain even though they usually go away and are most likely muscle pain.
My doctor gave me a urinalysis to put my mind at ease but I think it was just a dipstick test. Is there anything I can do or check to put my mind at ease on this topic? Thanks in advance.
Answer Kyle:
You don't have stones. You have an anxiety disorder. It's not reasonable to test or screen asymptomatic patients with no prior history for kidney stones. You should talk to your physician about this, but I suspect what you really have is an anxiety issue.
