Night Issues with My son

judosean2005

Hello,
IM looking for some advise.
So my Son (who is a Twin) has been waking up in the middle of the night
screaming. I know wat ur gonna say.that he is after having a nightmare/Night terrors.
But Night terrors the child is suppsoed to be non responsive. supposed to not remember a thing the next day.
Yet my son remembers everything. and has full conversations during his episode.
the doctor says he has Night terrors. but im little worries.

EG. tonight my son woke up screaming. punching his head. I spoke to him trying to calm him. he said he wants a tissue. so we went to other room.sat him down. where he started punching his legs and squeezing his privates. said he needed to Pee. stood over bowl and just punched his head.
If its a case that it is night terrors then fine. ill do as recommended and just comfort him till he sleeps.
but i want to do as much as i can to make sure it is this and not something else.

Any advise or similar issues would be great.

Troubled,frightened and upset father.
Sean

Mars Bar

Could you record one of his episodes so the doctor can see exactly what he is doing? It sounds very, very frightening and he seems to be a danger to himself in these episodes.

judosean2005

Yes tonight he had one of his episodes. and i recorded it on an iphone.

Its one thing to be in the situation. parental instincts kick in and u father the child. but when i watched the video of it. i felt so upset and lost.

Straight to doctor tomorrow morning to show him.

Soilse

there was an item with a sleep specialist for children yesterday on todayfm I think and she said for night terrors in a lot of cases it was insufficent naps or if they over 3 not getting enough quality sleep so put them to bed half an hour earlier and / or make sure they getting quality naps in day

also if there is a set time around when they have those nightmare wake them 10mins or so beforehand and put them back to sleep to try and break the cycle

judosean2005

Soilse wrote: »

there was an item with a sleep specialist for children yesterday on todayfm I think and she said for night terrors in a lot of cases it was insufficent naps or if they over 3 not getting enough quality sleep so put them to bed half an hour earlier and / or make sure they getting quality naps in day

also if there is a set time around when they have those nightmare wake them 10mins or so beforehand and put them back to sleep to try and break the cycle

Thanks very much for info.
My son is 5.goes to bed 7:15-7:30.

Problem is. my son could have 5 episodes in one night.

Soilse

http://sleepmatters.ie/ryan-tubridy-2fm-jan-2015/

Mars Bar

judosean2005 wrote: »

Problem is. my son could have 5 episodes in one night.

Wow. The poor lad must be exhausted and that can't be helping the episodes either.

bp

God poor you and your son. I have zero practical advice unless speak to his teachers too in case something is going on at school.

I really hope the doctor can help

cbyrd

My 3 year old son, who I potty trained last summer, started waking up screaming in the night too about 3 months ago, after I took his night nappies away . I thought it was night terrors too but it turned out, he needed to wee. What was happening was his body knew he needed the loo but his brain was too sleepy to register it, he went into panic mode thinking he was going to wet the bed. When I got him to the loo, it took him a few seconds before he could let go and wee, my solution was to lift him and take him to the loo before he start to scream. By screaming, I mean bloodcurdling thinking he's being stabbed type screams that would go on for maybe ten minutes and could happen 2-3 times a night.He would bang his head on the bed and kick out at the wall, screaming at me to go away. it was very distressing.

Try waking him gently and bringing him to the loo before he has an episode, might not be the problem but by disturbing his sleep it might break the pattern too.
good luck

MindWorker

Hypnotherapy has been found to be very beneficial for night terrors. You might consider a hypnotherapist. My suggestion there, would be to see one that has a university education specifically in Clinical Hypnotherapy. Unfortunately, many psychologists, physchotherapists and laypeople take on roles as hypnotherapists, and quite simply, are poorly trained through one week-type training programmes.

Hypnotherapy is not taught in Irish Universities, so it might take a bit of work to find someone in Ireland, but well worth giving it a try. Unfortunately, certain modern and beneficial areas of mental health that have been around for quite a while are just starting to hit our isle and gain some speed, such as DBT.

Do a search on Google for "treatment of childhood night terrors through the use of hypnosis" and you can learn quite a bit about the benefits.

fall

For my son it was the same as cbyrd's child. He needed to wee. He is seven now and they rarely happen but we instantly bring him to the toilet if they do. He will be shaking and crying but once he goes to the toilet we bring him back to bed and cuddle him and use a really calm tone. hope you get some answers. It can be so scary.

judosean2005

Thanks for replies guys.
After reading yere posts. about waking son to pee.
When my son has his episode, he is unable to pee.

I did take the video to Doctor, doctor says it may be Night terrors still. But i said i still want to get it referred.

If i can say for sure its Night terrors then fine. but i want to do all i can before i settle on that diagnoses.

Sean

fall

My son. Was the same, wee had to keep telling him it was ok. It's like he was afraid that he was wetting the bed. Started to reduce the amount of fluids he got near bed

HelgaWard

When you are going to bed try lifting him then and bringing him to the toilet.

judosean2005

unfortunately he has his episodes between 7:30 and 9. but too early for sleep for us
We have however been giving him a calming tea before bed. he still having his episodes but much more relaxed.and controllable. can have him sleeping in 5 mins after episode as opposed to 30 mins.

thanks for help/advise everyone.
Sean