Screaming overnight

DS1 whom is 22 months old, has slept thru the night since he was 11 months old.

In the last few weeks he has been waking in the middle of the night hysterical screaming and squealing. (He is a noisy squealer at best of times. When we go to him he clings on for dear life and doesnt want put down, he will fall asleep in our arms and as soon as you go to move he wakes up and clings on.
If we lie with him on sofa bed in his room, he is up and down and restless and doesn't want to sleep.

DH is away a lot at present which makes it hard on me to have 2 kids waking overnight. Last week I had 4 nights home alone and 2 nights I had both boys in bed with me which doesnt work, as at one stage I woke and DS1 had turned sidewas in bed with 1 leg on DS2 head and other on neck.

Last 3 nights DH has slept with DS1 from when he wakes screaming, but says very restless.

We have tryed as hard as it is letting him scream for a bit hoping he will self settle but he doesnt, if its just a grizzle he will but not screaming.

He generally goes to bed ok without much grizzling.

Please help with any ideas

Do you think he could be having nightmares or night terrrors Feeb? My DS started at around that age.

Have thought that but have no idea what to do!! Any ideas?

Dd2 was like this for the past fortnight then one night last week she screamed from 8pm to 6am took her to the dr and she has a bad ear infection. I felt awful as she showed no signs of being sick during the day. Maybe take him for a check up?

Is it the same time every night?
Is he aware you're there initially?
Does he answer coherently or does it not make sense?

I agree with Tinks in that it is either nightmares as that is the age they become more aware of their dreams or terrors. With the terrors though he won't actually be awake. Sometimes though it's the waking up bit that is quite scary. Their heart is racing and they're screaming and they don't know why - hence the reason you should try hard not to wake them. I know that if DD wakes in the middle of one of hers when I'm trying to help her it's far worse for her.
Can you have a quick natter to your GP?

It's anywhere from 1 am till 5am that he wakes up.
He is sometimes lieing there crying other times standing in cot, when we go in he generally will stand up if lieing down.
He doesn't talk yet really so nothing makes sense (he only says mum, dad, nup)

I will get a gp appt organised