I cannot take this....is this a flare up?

I find using emuaid at a time like that reduces my need for steroid. It's natural and brings so much relief. It sounds like you are having a flareup. I had a terrible flareup last spring ( hence a diagnosis finally after prob 25-30 years of some degree of suffering) Itching was intense/ lose your mind kind of itching and my LS spread like crazy. Now I have the classic figure 8. Have you tried baking soda baths? Reducing sugar in your diet?

Those special days ... when 'the flesh gets weak'.  You're only human Melissa.  I'm sure that when you are in your regular rythm again you'll soon recover from this ordeal.  

It is for this reason that I've become not very fond of those special days in the year - Easter, Christmas among other.  The times when your mind thinks that you can make 'an exception'.  But we'll always end up paying afterwards.  For that reason I have some 'special treats' that are safe and that calm my desire  somewhat and thus I avoid being tempted. 

A friend of mine always said:  taste is only five or so inches long. (the length of your tongue)  and after that you're stuck with it for much longer.  (ha)

Hi, I agree, this sounds like a flare.  It can be anywhere in the figure 8 area, including around the anus.  Try to keep the area moisturised.  Some people find organic olive oil helpful and other ideas are emu oil and coconut oil.  An ice pack might help, too.  Try to be gentle with the area when toileting - anything touching the area should be toxin and perfume free, even organic if possible.  I find baths with epsom salts work well, combined with moisturising and a strict diet.  I also use the diaper cream when it is enflamed (find one with zinc for healing).  Good luck!  I hope you get on top of it.

it is your toilet paper that is the culprit. I have had burning like chemical burns for over 25 years, such as yours...without sounding like a broken record, as I have posted alot about this on here, try and buy non-recycled, chemical free toilet paper. its super hard to find, but i managed to find virgin paper made from bamboo, not recycled (how can one 'clean garbage'? its still garbage..and poisonous, at that) ... try a health food store or go online. I just ordered some and will let you know if it works without a hitch. Until that comes, I am back to wiping with a damp rag. its a pain in the rump, to do this, but the burning i was feeling was driving me mad. can you imagine living like this for 25+ years? that was me, until i found it was the toilet paper...i had borrowed a roll from a neighbor when i ran out (super embarrasing!) and within 3 hours it seemed my burning, that i have endured for years, just stopped! i ran, not walked, to the store and bought my neighbor's brand of t.p.  For a month, i felt like a normal person...NO PAINFUL BURNING! then over the weekend, i went to buy more of the tp, but to my horror, the company changed it! the texture is different and the burning has resumed! i cried, cried, cried...literally. then i went online to look for 'chemical free, non recycled toilet paper', and it is virtually non existent. everything is recycled...which is BAD for our bottoms! let alone bad to injest anything on recycled paper plates/cups, etc.  sooooo, i found the bamboo paper, non recycled, and just ordered a 4-pack to try. if i find no irritation from this, I will write my review for all to see, on this forum. God bless you....try and use a damp washcloth, and apply lanolin or k.y. jelly to the affected parts until you, too, can find a paper-toilet paper alternative.