About Gareth Stubbs Expertise Given that I am not a “medical professional” I cannot answer questions on medication and the like, however, I can offer my experiences thereon. I am able to offer answers to questions on the effects of most drugs (street and prescription) as well as advice regarding halting the use of and recovery from active addiction, which plays a very important role in the recovery process as well addressing underlying issues and reasons as to why drugs and the like are abused. I am also able to address any questions regarding dealing with depression, suicide and self-harming, recovery from these and advice on creating a different lifestyle without these afflictions. I can also answer questions from families, friends and partners of drug users and depressed persons, and in addition to this, I have a very good understanding of the 12-step recovery program.
Experience With a long history of severe clinical depression, self-harming and substance abuse (since the age of 12) I “successfully” managed to lose all that I owned (marriage, home, children) as a result of suicide attempts, numerous hospital visits and severe drug use for 18 years, ranging from street to prescription drugs. I am now about to enter my 8th year free from substance and depression and my 4th year free from cutting myself. I know what it is like to be suicidal and in the grips of active addiction and self harm, how difficult it appears to reach out to people for help, and at the same time, I know how I managed to free myself from the lifestyle and how I continue to create a happy life without the use of medication and constant therapy and the like
Education/Credentials Life Change Consulting, Master Practitioner of NLP, Advanced Neurological Repatterning, Ericksonian Hypnosis, Master Hypnosis, Performance Consultant, Master Result Coach, as well as a Masters Degree in Life Experience.
Past/Present Clients Have spoken to school and groups (ages 12-16), ranging in size from 50 to 200 attendees at a time, as well as speaking to parents of school children. Have also worked one-on-one with young adults with successful and continuing results. Currently working on creating and presenting a development program encompassing all areas of change in lifestyle, as well as a magazine and book publication.
Thanks in advance for reading this. I'm a 25 year old. Mostly healthy Male. I have been drinking energy drinks for the last few years. But more recently I have been basically soley drinking them. up to 5 a day was my max. How ever Last weekend after staying up with my friend to 4 a.m. EST. I went to go lay down and sleep when my back suddenly went into pain where I would have sworn I was stabbed with a knife. After being like that for 3 hours I woke up my friend and had him bring me to the hospital. They ran an EKG (Heart Monitor) On me and he poked and prodded my back. When he got to my kidneys it hurt. The doctor never said what was wrong with me. Just gave me muscle relaxers and pain killers. A Friend mom said that it might be the energy drinks. I didn't want to belive her. But again now. I had two bottles of NOS energy drink. And I had to leave work early today with my back being in pain. So I wanted to turn to someone. From who was available tonight. Your blurb fit most. I tried to check online for this. But I couldn't find anything other then blogs that talked about the addiction part. Any Advice/info you have on energy and negative said effect would be great. Also if you don't mind. If you find a site with some information would you be able to link it to me? Thanks again.
Answer Hey Brian,
Thanks for writing in. As I am not medically trained, I am not 100% sure if there is anything that directly affects the kidneys contained in energy drinks, however, I can share with you my own experience as I have suffered from very similar problems to that which you are talking about, and it was definately my kidneys that were affected.
Like yourself, I personally used to live on these drinks and would drink nothing else during the day, not even water. As a result, after a few years my body began to take a severe amount of strain and it was explained to me that it was definately the kidneys that were affected as they are the ones that do whatever they do with the fluids that you take in, so therefore, all the additives contained in the energy drinks were stored in the kidneys as they could not be passed. They then calcified quite badly and began causing severe kidney stones, to the extent that I almost lost one of them due to the build up.
I began drinking loads of water, which was a bit of a struggle at first, but after a while, decided to try the energy drink again however, the pain soon came back and I therefore decided (on my own) that it was the drinks causing the pain because since stopping them, I have not had any problems and this was a few years ago since it last happened.
I dont know if this has helped, but it has been my experience and based on my own results, I can only say that all the additives must definately have an affect, especially if we have been drinking them for some time.
Let me know how it goes and if you need any other advice or anything.
