NIGHT TERRORS

HI all,

I am hoping to get some advice from you parents out there OR if anyone's SO is a peds/neurologist...maybe I could get some free medical advice.

Well, my son just turned 4 months old, and he has been having what DH and I would describe as night terrors. He falls asleep and maybe 30 minutes or so later, he "wakes up" screaming like he is in pain, he turns bright red and is sweating like crazy, and NOTHING we can do will calm him!! He isn't awake but his eyes are open and he just stares through us like we aren't there. This goes on for 15-20 minutes then he either falls back to sleep or will wake up for real, and seem fine. The first time it happened he was around 7 weeks old. DH and I were so disturbed that we almost rushed him to the ER! Then my DH figured that it must be a night terror or something due to his CNS developing. However, I am concerned because since Halloween, he has had 3 more episodes! Does anyone have any experience with this?? I cannot find any literature on this (even on Up to Date). From what I understand babies aren't "supposed" to have such things at such a young age...so I feel stupid asking the peditrician about it (I haven't had great experience with his ped thus far...we need to get a new one, but that is another story for another time). I am just concerned that perhaps something is wrong with him, especially since no one else I have talked with has heard of this happening with babies.

Re: NIGHT TERRORS

I would get him to the doctor yesterday and tell him/her exactly what you just wrote. Also, film it the next time it happens. If nothing else, you're ruling out anything dangerous. Don't let the ped make you feel stupid. You're the customer. If you're not completely satisfied with the ped's explanation, go to another one the next day.

Good luck. Let us know what happens.

[poky]

Re: NIGHT TERRORS

what she said. Your husband's a doctor. Don't you dare let a pediatrician intimidate you. Find a new one if you need to, but GO, and if you have to, keep finding new ones until you get a solution or an explanation that makes sense to you. It definitely does not sound "right", and should be looked into. I like the idea of videotaping it, if you can.

[SuzySunshine]

Re: NIGHT TERRORS

Can you call and see if they have an opening today? If they say your ped is full maybe that's your chance to see someone else.

No experience, just hugs!

[DCJenn]

Re: NIGHT TERRORS

I'll ask my beloved Child Neurologist when he gets home. and do not let the pediatrician intimidate you. Trust me, they're not all that and a chocolate covered graham cracker...

I do think he's too young for typical night terrors but I'm not a doc. If I talk to Rick today, I'll send you a PM.

Jenn

[Cumberland]

Re: NIGHT TERRORS

This is your one sweet baby. If you have the slightest concern, this is what you are paying the dr for. I dont hesitate to call for anything. What you are describing does not sound like night terrors to me.

[SuzySunshine]

Re: NIGHT TERRORS

Amy, I just talked to my DH and he says if your ped is stumped too he would recommend coming over here and seeing a Child Neurologist. Since your DH starts here next summer maybe they'll get him into the Mayo system.

[Momo]

Re: NIGHT TERRORS

ITA w/ the gang...listen I have no problem letting the Peds know daddy is an MD.
I'm glad DCJenn will check w/her husband.
Suzysunshine's idea sounded good too!

Good luck...I'll be thinking of you!





Big for you & the little man

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: NIGHT TERRORS

My DH knows a TON about night terrors. Somehow, his PhD work related to this. He's got a zillion books on the subject and is always ready to (ordinarily, completely bore) talk about the condition to anyone who is unfortunate enough to be trapped in a confined space with him.

I'll ask him about your post, if that would be helpful. If you get what you need from others' SOs, then just let me know.

[Deebs]

Re: NIGHT TERRORS

I agree with everyone else about getting him into a peds neurologist. My DD started having night terrors when she was early in infancy (I don't remember how early - not something I put in the baby book), probably around 4-6 months. She acted exactly as you are describing. I'm not giving you medical advice or a diagnosis, though. I would definitely want him seen if I were you. This is a time I would use the Dr. card if you have to - have your DH call your pediatrician. Chances are, you can either get a referral over the phone or get squeezed in during lunch, after hours, etc.

We got her into her ped, a developmental ped, and peds neurologist all within about 2 days. The conclusion was that it was night terrors. The "solution" we were given was to wake her, making sure she was fully awake, when this happened, and for us, it worked. But, seeing the right docs and getting some tests definitely put our minds at ease that it was only night terrors. She still has them occasionally, as do I. Now that she's two, I ignore them a bit more than I used to, unless she is calling for me.

Good luck!

[DCJenn]

Re: NIGHT TERRORS

I had my response here but I sent you a PM, instead.

Jenn

Re: NIGHT TERRORS

Thanks everyone for your help. I KNEW asking you all would be helpful. I will contact his doc today. Its crazy being a new parent and not knowing when things are normal or not. I swear, the nurse advisors at the hospital must think I am a nervous, crazy new mom. I have called them about several things so far including green poop and major amounts of spit up (both being no big deal...but I had to make sure!). You all are great!! Thanks again for everything. I will let you know what the scoop is when I find out more.

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: NIGHT TERRORS

HI all,

I am hoping to get some advice from you parents out there OR if anyone's SO is a peds/neurologist...maybe I could get some free medical advice.

Well, my son just turned 4 months old, and he has been having what DH and I would describe as night terrors. He falls asleep and maybe 30 minutes or so later, he "wakes up" screaming like he is in pain, he turns bright red and is sweating like crazy, and NOTHING we can do will calm him!! He isn't awake but his eyes are open and he just stares through us like we aren't there. This goes on for 15-20 minutes then he either falls back to sleep or will wake up for real, and seem fine. The first time it happened he was around 7 weeks old. DH and I were so disturbed that we almost rushed him to the ER! Then my DH figured that it must be a night terror or something due to his CNS developing. However, I am concerned because since Halloween, he has had 3 more episodes! Does anyone have any experience with this?? I cannot find any literature on this (even on Up to Date). From what I understand babies aren't "supposed" to have such things at such a young age...so I feel stupid asking the peditrician about it (I haven't had great experience with his ped thus far...we need to get a new one, but that is another story for another time). I am just concerned that perhaps something is wrong with him, especially since no one else I have talked with has heard of this happening with babies.

I told my DH about your post this weekend. He said that, theoretically, it could be night terrors. However, he is not familiar with the syndrome in someone that young and did not know exactly how it would be confirmed in a child that age.

(I'm guessing here, but night terrors are accompanied by the incapability of the sleeper to move or wake up. Hard to know if that is happening in an infant, because it's not like you can interview the child after the incident.)

Based on the details you've provided, though, he strongly suggests, that you have the child seen by a pediatric neurologist who has expertise in different forms of epilepsy in infants (as you know, not all seizures manifest as the dramatic grand mal seizures). He's got quite a bit of experience with epilepsy, too (don't ask--the mice he used in his PhD-work were bred to have epilepsy or something...). He said his first concern would be for an electrical disruption like epilepsy. He suggested that an overnight monitoring of electrical activity in the brain might be productive.

But, he also notes, as any good doctor would, he hasn't seen the child and his recommendation is being made via third-hand hearsay filtered through at least two non-physicians. And, he's a NSG PGY3, not a PEDS NEUR ATT.

But, whatever you do, stick to your guns. If the first physician you see doesn't take you seriously, thinks you're just being an overly worried parent, isn't familiar with night terrors, etc.--go to someone else. You're the mom and if you've got a gut feeling, don't be afraid to act upon it. You are your child's only advocate. An infant can't talk. If you and your husband just think something is wrong, pursue it. Take your DH with you to the appointments. MDs are less likely to blow off an MD-parent.

I don't know if this is helpful. But if I can ask DH any follow-up, etc., let me know. He seemed really fascinated from a clinical perspective at the idea of an infant with night terrors.

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: NIGHT TERRORS

my daughter gets night terrors, but didn't until she was about 2. She still gets them periodically-

It is very disconcerting. Hope you find out what it is and that it is night terrors and not something more serious...

Hang in there.

Re: NIGHT TERRORS

Based on the details you've provided, though, he strongly suggests, that you have the child seen by a pediatric neurologist who has expertise in different forms of epilepsy in infants (as you know, not all seizures manifest as the dramatic grand mal seizures). He's got quite a bit of experience with epilepsy, too (don't ask--the mice he used in his PhD-work were bred to have epilepsy or something...). He said his first concern would be for an electrical disruption like epilepsy. He suggested that an overnight monitoring of electrical activity in the brain might be productive.

Thanks Abigail. I have an appointment scheduled with DS's ped for next Monday, so hopefully she will refer us to the pediatric neurologist (if she doesn't I will call them and set up an appointment myself). I also am worried that it might be some type of epilepsy. Both DH and I have parents who suffer from seizures and my dad and uncle both have epilepsy, so it wouldn't be a surprise. I hope it is something he will grow out of and not have to be on medication for the rest of his life

He actually has had 2 more episodes since my first post. I tried to video tape one but of course the batteries were dead in the camera! Thank your DH for me and if I have any questions I will be sure to ask!!