I've recently been diagnosed with severe IBS, I have awful flare ups about once a month and I get very very sore and bleed, it's so painful it actually reduces me to tears.
I've tried warm baths between each "bathroom break", any one have any other tips as it's so so painful and getting in the bath doesn't seem to help.

Thank you

Keep the loo roll in the fridge?

Awww mrsmoose, I really feel your pain as I have this issue too. I find a gentle wash helps,using a simple soap ( dab your bum rather than rubbing it) and then pat dry. Then I smear on a good dollop of sudocreme, it's really soothing and does the trick for me.

Try having peppermint capsules before you have something to eat -- and if you feel your stomach begin to get all bubbly and sore try a charcoal capsule to help. I tried the medications given by the GP and found they didn't really work, but I found these helped to manage my symptoms. Everyone is different though.

Also make sure you've cut out trigger foods e.g fizzy drinks, junk food, take aways etc.

When possible, the BIB also applies when you are using the loo paper.

With regard to " trigger foods", I find it is stress and/ or anxiety that brings on a relapse with me, along with most fruit and nuts.

I find the wet toilet wipes a godsend when I have a flare up. I hate this condition so I can only agree with the others advice as well.

I use wet wipes instead of toilet roll. Not quite as painful then.

My sister has this and says that E45 cream on the loo roll helps.

I always feel as if wetwipes leave me a bit...umm....squelchy, but they are handy if you are out and about. I prefer the " water" ones rather than the lotion or perfumed ones as these can aggravate an already very sore area.

oooo agony.

get some anaesthetic based pile cream [as well as wet wiping].

Ask doctor for 5% lidocaine cream

Also ask if you can use vagisil , different region I know but also lidocaine based and cheaper than a prescription, can buy without prescription cheaply in Savers.

I think the suggestion of using E45 cream on loo roll is a very good one,

I would be wary of constant washing and especially the wet wipes as you do not want to damage the good bacteria off your skin and affect the pH balance as it will make you prone to thrush

If you want to wash after every visit to the toilet use plain water with no soap, you can use aqueous cream as a soap, you can get a massive pot in savers for a pound

If it were me I would DAB gently with loo roll

Then wash with plain water and aqueous cream

Followed by lidocaine cream or sudocreme

Try cutting out sugar and grain. I have awful IBS, and the even worse Lichen Sclerosus both are in the neither regions and both much worse if I have any sugar and grain.

Ask your doctor if Proctosydel is suitable http://www.medicines.org.uk/emcmobile/medicine/8301

Whatever you do don't flush them down the toilet or you will soon have to pay for a very expensive blockage to be removed.

Curious, but how bad does this actually get? You've mentioned you get it severe about once a month? An old friend of mine has been off work now (with IBS) for a good 7 months or so, maybe even longer, and claims that he isn't well enough to work. He works in computing, so it's not exactly a strenuous job or anything, and I'm wondering just how unable he is.

He's known to be a bit of a hypochondriac, and is generally a lazy person anyway, so I'm thinking he may be milking his condition, so to speak.

Well if he's been signed off by a GP then you've no choice but to accept it. IBS comes in many different forms with different people. Someone may have it mild with occasional flare ups where as someone else may not be able to eat a meal without suffering after.

Everyone is different . Maybe look it up and see how bad the worst is?

Mine was very bad and going out the house was am huge problem. stress of any kind affected me.

When I have a flare up, I can "go" about 20 times a day. It's exhausting and miserable.

I know! I always put them in nappy sacks. Apparently, the flushable wipes don't flush properly either.

I had that everyday for 6 months before I was told I had Crohn's .

I put E45 into a small pot and add a little peppermint oil and mix in then put that on loo roll and use it when I am clean.

Oh, that sounds nice and soothing, will try that. Thanks.