I have been getting kidney infections when I am stressed.

Ever since a very stressful event happened in my life, I have been getting kidney infections when I am stressed. It was also joined by severe pain in my left shoulder, a burning stomach, and anxiety attacks. As I am getting older (this began @ 24 yrs.-I will be 30 in February) this issue is getting worse. My back is to the point where it hurts all the time, all day, it is effecting my daily life and it is all over my back-mainly radiating from my left shoulder. I now bloat and look very pregnant when I get stressed, then the kidney pain, then the actual infection. The doctor's always do a urinalysis and they come back asking me if I am on my period every time. "No," I tell them. "Well, there is a large amount of blood that we saw under the microscope." "OK . . ."

Thing is, this is always at the ER. I haven't had insurance since I was 24 and of course, that is when the stress began and the onset of illness did as well. I've taken all the medications they prescribe for kidney infections. They take a while to work and it's not long after I may see these symptoms again. Stress brings it out though and I can't seem to stay away from stress...it's a part of life. A few things to note, I got very ill with a kidney infection and the infection reached my blood. The doctor said I was close to death, had I not come in when I did. I saw the scan, one kidney had so much pus around it and it was inflamed. Sometimes medications bring out the swelling and infections. Benadryl and some pain relievers cause the swelling and urinating becomes more difficult. I learned a few years back that alcohol would mean waking up to the worst infection in the Universe. So obviously, I do not drink...anymore.

I have not a clue as to what this could be. A doctor told me stress can do odd things to a person's body. True, but there must be some underlying issue causing the body not to be able to respond in the right way it should. Is this neurological?? Autoimmune?? Some sort of mental illness?? I've even thought about a pinched nerve. I have looked up so many things and I have not been able to find anyone say that stress does this to them.

The swelling concerns me, along with the simple fact that I constantly battle kidney infections. Yes, this does interfere with my life!! Any one out there feeling this way or have any answers??