Nighttime ritual Breakdowns

We're not sure what happened, but, it's getting very very frustrating. Sam has decided to be a terror from about 5:00 p.m. until bed. Bed time has turned into TERROR time around here. We let Sam SCREAM it out last night for 2+ hours and he would NOT settle down. Finally around 10:25 I couldn't listen to him anymore. I gave in and took him in bed with us. It took him a long time to settle down and he really didn't want me to touch him as he was as stiff as a board and very sensitive. He also did NOT want anything to do with his pacifier (which is SO NOT him). He finally fell asleep around 10:45. As soon as he drifted off I caried him back in his room.

I really hope this is not what turning 2 is all about. This pattern he is presenting to us has been in place for the past 3 nights and it just can NOT continue. I'm frustrated, Brad's frustrated and so is Sam. When I went in his room to get him after his screaming attack, his whole body was shaking, his pajama tops were soaked with tears and he could hardly breathe. It broke my heart. We went through this phase with him when he was 7 months old. We would "let him scream it out" and he would NEVER fall asleep. He ended up throwing up from crying so hard or he would turn different shades of purple and gasp for air after 2 hours.

I did discuss this with the doctor and she told me that the "scream it out" method isn't for every child. She told me it wasn't worth it if he screams for the FULL 2 hours. As I laid there last night trying to calm down tears rolled down my face as I wonder, "am I doing the right thing?". But....this has to end. I don't have the patience for this anymore. Then I wonder, "is he sick? are his 2 year molars coming in?" I just don't know. Or then I think, "Am I giving him enough attention during the day?" HELP

Let's hope child protection does not show up at my door this morning as we probably woke up the entire condo community last night....