My 6 year old son is having episodes in his sleep and i don't know what to do.?

Question

He had surgery last week and every night since his surgery he has been having these episodes. He falls asleep and then he will start crying. Last night I went into check on him and he sat up. I asked him why he was crying and he told me the sun was in his eyes. He talks to me but doesn't make any sense and he doesn't open his eyes. These episodes usually last at least 2 hours but so far tonight he has already been crying for almost 3 hours. I try to wake him up but he won't wake up. I don't know what to do for him. Please help!!

Answer 1

these are similar to night terrors. i have had night terrors once a week (or more) for as long as i can remember and they are terrifying. sometimes it is bright, painful, and long, othertimes i feel paralyzed and they last shorter. a night terror happens when the individual is awake, but not fully. they are trapped in the process of waking up/falling asleep and therefor there is little that can help. waiting wiht him until it is over will be comforting. it sometimes helps me to not watch tv at all in the evenings (starting 2-3 hours before bedtime is good) and trying to relax while falling asleep.

i'm not an expert on this, so some of the things stated above might be true aswell. it could also be a nightmare about the surgery, he could have woken up during the surgery, he might be reliving the surgery. it is hard for anyone on this site to know exactly because we can't talk to him or see exactly what he saw.

Answer 2

I don't think that this has anything to do with the surgery. They are called night terrors and are common at this age.

Answer 3

My son used to have these as well.  He has a phobia of spiders and would usually cry about the spiders in his room.  I would begin suggesting that the spiders were getting smaller.  See how small they are?  Look how much smaller they are now.  Wow, they are all gone.  Usually, it worked.  Just stay as calm as possible and talk in a very soothing voice.  Talk about how the sun is setting, it is beginning to get dark, etc.  Hopefully it will work for you.  Good luck!

Answer 4

ask him about his experience, everything step by step from the time you left him and go from there. he may need therapy if he is traumatized by the surgery

Answer 5

Not sure but if your son was awake and saw all the bright lights in the operating room when he had surgery he may be reliving that moment in his mind and is unable to tell you what it is.

If the problem persists talk to his doctor about it to see if there is something he or she can recommend to help remedy the problem.

Another thought is when he's saying the sun is in his eyes, tell him it's NOT the sun but his guardian angels watching over him and lighting his way so they can protect him from more hurt.

Hope something here will be of help to you. I'm definitely no expert in these matters.

Answer 6

He could be having night terrors like others are saying about his surgery. He could've been one of these people who are given stuff to knock them out but wake up or his body may have become aware of what was happening but he couldn't wake up wake up. if that's the case he could be traumatized by it.

The only other option i can think of is Sleep walking. You don't literally have to get up out of bed to sleep walk terchnically. sitting up in bed with eyes closed and you being unable to wake him is sleep walking. my 4 and a half year old sleep walks and has since he was a little over 2 years old.. he started off like your son. having nightmares or something, talk in his sleep. then he would sit up in bed, talk, carry on a conversation even though he was asleep sometimes. other times he literally got up and started walking around. he even went to the bathroom, used the potty and got back into bed while asleep. i've got so many different stories it's unreal. but a good bit of them started otu as nightmares. and several times he would cry in his sleep state and wouldn't make sense at all.

mention it to his doctor. there won't be much he can do but if it is sleep waking which is pretty common in kids and usually they out grow it by 9yrs old, he gave give you tips and techniques on how to handle it. I never communicate with my son anymore whle asleep. i go to him and gently rub his back and that's about it. if he wanders around i gently usher him back to bed and i never ever try to wake him up.....that's the main rule of thumb. do not wake him up for his safety and yours. if you do he could become very confused, disoriented, embarassed b/c he doesn't know what's going on, of he could lash out and think you're something in his dream that was about to hurt him......i've been hit a few times before i learned not to wake him. you can also try calming techniques before before, an herbal warm tea with a little honey, something soothing. spraying his sheets and pillows with a lavendar and vanilla combo spray available at bath and body works.....i think even frebreeze makes one now. the more stimulated he is before he goes to bed the more likely it will happen. the more wound down he is and calm and relaxed and less stimulated the better night rest he may have. my oldest has these epsiodes every time he goes to bed wired up or had a very exciting day before hand. never failed.

Answer 7

Call the doctor!

Answer 8

He may be having nightmares about his surgery, but I would call his doctor and discuss it just to make sure nothing is wrong.

Answer 9

"I don't know what to do for him." You don't know how to call the doctor and make an appointment to disucss this?  And you claim to be a parent?