A father who drank up to two liters of Monster energy drink every day told how he feared for his life due to his 20-year addiction.
Andy Hammond, 36, from Hartlepool, collapsed suddenly at home and was rushed to hospital on Christmas Day.
Tests revealed he had a 4mm wide kidney stone, which doctors believe was behind his health problem and left him in excruciating pain.
Although they have no proof, Hammond, a former soldier, says his doctors believe his Monster habit is to blame for the kidney stone.
Numerous studies have linked excessive consumption of energy drinks to this distressing medical problem.
Andy Hammond, 36, pictured in hospital, admitted the incident ‘scared’ him because of how unwell he was and the risk of his kidney stones becoming septic.
Speaking of his ordeal, Hammond said: “I have served in the army and been wounded in Afghanistan and nothing compares to kidney stones.”
Hammond started drinking energy drinks as a teenager because he thought they were “cool.”
At the height of his energy drink habit, he drank four 500ml cans of Monster Energy a day. Monster became his favorite brand.
Hammond said: “I remember drinking energy drinks as a kid because it was the best thing I could do.”
‘Since I drank them from the age of 15, I have continued to drink them since then.
“It’s not that I really liked the taste of it, it was more of a habit.”
In December 2023, the social work student began noticing blood in his urine. At the time he was treated for a serious urinary tract infection, but collapsed at his home two days later, on December 25.
In December 2023, the social work student began noticing blood in his urine.
At the time he was treated for a serious urinary tract infection, but collapsed at home two days later, on December 25.
Hammond did not reveal what caused him to collapse. However, in rare cases, the pain can cause people to faint.
He was rushed to Hartlepool University Hospital, where a CT scan revealed he had a large kidney stone.
Hammond, who is still awaiting surgery to have the kidney stone removed, underwent surgery to place a stent between his kidneys and bladder to help with urination.
But he admits the incident “scared” him because of how unwell he felt.
The father-of-three from Hartlepool, Durham, started drinking energy drinks as a teenager because he thought they were “cool”. But at the height of his energy drink addiction, he drank four 500ml cans of Monster Energy a day.
Recalling her ordeal, she said: “I told them I don’t drink a lot of water and I drink quite a few energy drinks.”
‘They told me… there is medical research that links drinks to the formation of kidney stones.
“And kidney stones can become septic, which can kill you within hours.”
Kidney stones are a buildup of a substance such as calcium, ammonia or uric acid in the body, according to the NHS.
While many kidney stones are only the size of a grain of sand, some can grow to the size of a golf ball.
People who don’t drink enough water or other fluids are more likely to develop them, the NHS says. Drinking water can decrease the concentration of minerals.
Kidney stones are also more common in people with urinary tract infections and who eat a low-protein, high-fiber diet.
Mr Hammond, who still suffers from frequent water infections, is awaiting surgery to have the kidney stone removed.
Despite a large number of studies, experts have yet to conclusively demonstrate how energy drinks can cause kidney stones. Some have speculated that high levels of sugar or sodium could be to blame.
After admitting to doctors that he drank “quite a few energy drinks” and not enough water, they revealed that they thought his addiction was to blame.
Energy drinks contain a lot of caffeine, phosphorus and sugars, which have been associated with the formation of kidney stones.
Now Hammond insists he will “never touch an energy drink again.”
‘I have two children and I know that this kidney infection could have turned into sepsis, which can kill you. I have been very bad and I feel grateful to be one of the lucky ones.
‘For me now it’s just water, eating healthy and staying fit. Now I’m out of them for life.
Monster declined to comment.