Anxiety or Night Terrors ?

[Jane42]

Hi

I hope I am posting in the right area here. My 11 year old son recently had to have a tooth removed prior to having braces put on. It was very traumatic for him, he has anxiety about dentists. He got through the procedure but that night he had what has since been described to me as a night terror. I thought it was maybe more related to the happy gas and he was acting really strange. Moving on from that he has had these episodes 1 or 2 nights a week where he either wakes up or like tonight, he had not even gone to sleep and has come out really distressed saying it is happening... the best way he can describe is that he feels like he is up high and everything is really small. He shakes, coughs, is frightened and it is taking him a couple of hours to settle again.

I am planning on taking him to the Dr for a full checkup , he has never had anything like this and he says it is because of the tooth removal but the only thing i can think it has triggered an anxiety. 

Poor thing.. i feel so helpless and just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced anything like this.

Thanks

[Simona]

Hello Jane42  .    I can relate and understand how very terrifying it is.  Few years ago my 10 year old son underwent a Tonsillectomy and Turbinectomy and was put under general.  Although the operation went well that 1st week back home was something else. To this day I think that operation traumatized him because when he came to he didn't know where he was. He had to be held down and became hysterical.  I was in parent's room waiting to be called in and all I hear is my son's blood curdling screams. I almost threw up. The nurses fetched me pretty quick - I had to lie on hospital bed beside him and help nurses restrain him. He was putting up one hell of a fight trying to tear out those cotton wads from up his nose.

I provided round the clock pain relief with a sedative as directed hoping he would sleep through but every night he woke up absolutely hysterical - sobbing & trembling.  Inconsolable.  He tried to speak but only managed whimpers no matter how I tried to soothe him. His eyes looked terrified like he was trapped in one of those night terrors.

How very frightening it is.  I ended up sleeping on mattress on the floor beside my son's bed.  He is also a 'seasonal' asthmatic so I have always been extra vigilant.

There was only 1 time after that he came out of his bedroom before falling asleep - talking about extra sensory detachment and his arms feeling 'weird'.. He was pretty panicky and on that occasion we had later found out his heart was racing because he had taken too much  of his asthma reliever.

I'm really hoping whatever is troubling your son it is short-lived. I suspect his anxiety has doubled and these feelings can really pack a punch when a young brain is starting to wind down for sleep. Maybe try giving him a light touch on the back when he's in bed.   I still do this for my boy and it gets him relaxed and sleepy.