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Louise Ray Podiatrist, Southend-on-Sea (2025)

13/09/2023

Call the Podiatrist - oh wait, that’s me!

I am so excited to announce I have completed my degree in Podiatry and can officially call myself a Podiatrist (Chiropodist for those using old money).

These last 4 years have been really exciting overall. I’ve looked at every module in fear then realised halfway into them that they are not so bad.

I’ve tested my sanity, I’ve cried a lot and I even had a baby in the middle of it all.

To come out the other side with a Podiatry qualification has shown me that I am one determined person and I was getting this qualification.

Thank you to all my patients for their kind wishes and listening to my journey, and especially to my family for their support.

👣 👣 👣 ❤️ 👣 👣 👣

09/07/2023

I’ve been very quiet on here for a few months as I have been working hard to complete and submit my final essays to wrap up the final year.

This afternoon I submitted my final essay for marking. There’s nothing left to do but to drag in those thoughts of “have I done enough” and the what ifs.

I’m going to enjoy these next few months whilst I wait for my final year and degree results to come in.

Cheers everyone 🥂

14/02/2023

Raynaud’s Awareness Month…

Raynaud’s causes decreased blood flow to the fingers and toes. Symptoms can be soreness, numbness, feeling cold and a change colour.

The condition can make feet feel uncomfortable with the soreness and numbness. Making sure feet stay dry and warm can help improve symptoms.

For further advice and information, check out our wonderful NHS website https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/raynauds/

06/01/2023

It’s Walk Your Dog Month…

Walking can benefit our cardiovascular system in many ways. It strengthens our heart by increasing our heart rate as well as lowering our blood pressure. Be sure to wear proper footwear suitable for the conditions of the walk!

For those with osteoporosis, walking can help improve bone density and mass. To find out more, visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/osteoporosis/prevention/

And the best part, not only does walking release our nature endorphins but those furry little canines certainly bring out a smile as they bound around the field.

Most dogs require 1-2 walks a day, depending on many woofy factors. Check out further advice https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/how-much-exercise-does-your-dog-need

01/01/2023

Well it’s not going to write itself.

Wishing everyone a very happy new year and best wishes for health and happiness that it can bring.

I’m starting my year as I plan to go on, focussed on getting this degree finished ✅

23/08/2022

I’VE PASSED YEAR 3!!!!

Well that was not a very long wait for the final results. I was literally on my come down from finding out I passed the hardest paper I have ever had to write, to see more (in fact all of the remaining) results coming through, has made my head go fuzzy.

So all that I need to do now, is buy a brand new notebook ready for year 4. I cannot believe it.

23/08/2022

Come on the passes…

To be looking at this pass means a lot to me. Whilst I have thoroughly enjoyed reading papers and understanding different points of view and knowledge, to write my own review of those papers was very hard. But yet, I could easily talk about them 🤷🏼‍♀️

I have been sweating over this mark for MONTHS. And finally it’s here, on top of my provisional acceptance into the final year.

I just need to keep fingers and toes crossed for the oral exam which I had 3 examiners eyeballing me during it 🫣. Funny thing, I’m all for being watched when doing routine or surgery work, but yet ask me to talk around a subject…..nope!

11/08/2022

Incoming results week…

I had completely forgot about the outstanding essay and exam results, that’s until my phone pinged!

And here they come, year 3 of hard work coming to an end with a mark and feedback. And first up was the essay on dermatology.

I really enjoyed this module and have already put into practice my new skills, which has resulted in two referrals and both confirmed diagnosis of malignant melanomas. Believe it or not, one referral was for the dorsum of a foot, and the other not lower limb related at all, but in fact on the patients lip.

Some often say I only focus on the lower limb, well in part yes I do, but that lower limb carries another part of body on top of it. I won’t look at a lesion and think the beautician or make up artist will pick that up. If I see it, I’m on it.

I await the next ping of the phone! 🫣

15/07/2022

With permission to share…

What a way to end the week. My nail surgery patient came back for a redress and I was lucky enough to be available to take her in myself.

The patient was healing very well and was over the moon with no longer being in pain. She kindly wrote a thank you card which was handed to me as i was the one that performed the nail surgery.

It really is the little things that make that huge impact. I know she would have been appreciative of the post surgery results but to physically receive this has made my day 😊

15/07/2022

The end is near…

So here it is, the end of year exam. The one exam I have been dreading. Reading through a case study and presenting my thoughts, differential diagnosis and reasoning behind each and every one whilst being eyeballed by two examiners.

And guess who is going in first this time round….me 🙌🏻.

I’m actually not nervous about this but I’m not sure if it’s because I feel like I know my stuff or the fact I’m overly tired from being woken up by two pigeons having a domestic by my window at 5am.

Bring on 9:30 when I am called in.

What a year this has been. But as they say. If it were easy, we would all do it.

14/07/2022

Exam day…

The house/students have been awake early this morning for last minute revision and discussion about the upcoming exam.

Usual thoughts dropping in my head - “I can’t do this”, “I wonder what questions will be asked”, “have I done enough” and “get a grip Lou”.

Remember, remember, remember - I am not forming a definitive diagnosis (well I can’t 🤷🏼‍♀️) but a working diagnosis and it’s all about HISTORY, HISTORY, HISTORY 🔍.

“It is much more important to know what sort of a patient has a disease than what sort of a disease a patient has”, William Osler

13/07/2022

Birthday treat…

Great start to my birthday. Clinic first thing and I took a lovely gentleman for routine treatment. I had already accepted I won’t get surgery because I did the LA for another student yesterday.

However, my next patient came in with a very painful left medial sulci on her big toe. The patient has been in pain for months and her FHP could not appear to bring any relief. And there she was, sat on the chair in front of me.

Unfortunately the pain was too much to the patient to even allow me to investigate. I suggested the patient has a PNA to remove the pain (and offended nail) for good. The patient was very pleased but I believed this would needed to be rebooked in. Half thinking I may have to stay back Friday after my exams.

The lovely tutor came in and said “why don’t we do it now”. Did not need to ask me twice, I was already on the other side of clinic waiting in the surgery room.

The patient was fantastic, and the procedure went without any problems. Here’s a picture of the beauty that I removed 🙌🏻

Fantastic birthday treat indeed.

12/07/2022

Team effort…

Always nice to build friendships, not only to share accommodation, but to always help each other with studies and exam preparation.

I rather enjoyed my first day in clinic. I had a biomechanic assessment patient. But before I went in to my own patient, I helped another student start their surgery by setting up the room and giving the patient their local anaesthetic then bogging off into my own room.

It is amazing when you reflect back to see how far you come. Back in the days I would be constantly thinking about giving local anaesthetic but yesterday I literally rocked in, set up, administered, tested then left. Boom 💥 👊🏻

Safe to say surgery is my favourite ❤️

11/07/2022

Starting to feel like second home now…

First lecture on dermatology finished, before the day finishes with 3 patient assessments 🙌🏻

Bring on the exams on Thursday 💪🏻 📖 🤓 🦶

30/06/2022

And we are done…

No more essays due for the remainder of the year. Just a lovely big practical exam and a 1 hour written exam (on my birthday 🎂 👍🏻) .

11 days until I travel up to uni. Where has this year gone? But I am very much looking forward to a couple of months of being deadline free and revisiting my social life 🙌🏻

27/06/2022

Paronychia…

I consider myself a confident practitioner, always working within my remit but with the eagerness to learn new skills and knowledge. But treating your own child is a whole new level.

My 5 year old came to me this morning, complaining that his second toe was hurting. And there is was, quite an angry paronychia poor boy.

Typical it was right when we should be leaving for the school run. Just typical!

I am always mindful of little eyes gazing over some of the instruments I use. I mean, metal crocodiles (nippers) are not exactly cuddly and fun looking and neither is their bite 🐊 and let’s not even begin when the huge sword (scalpel) comes out.

I always make a point of gaining that trust with my younger patients first. Gentle chit chat always works.

I had to explain to my boy how I would “tickle” his toe with my scalpel. Fun words always make it better. So he allowed me to treat him and away I went. I managed to get the point of drainage, and my gosh was it one angry pocket of fun stuff. The scalpel is always quickly withdrawn because those little eyes want to get closer to exam what was achieved 😂

Gentle extraction and good after care applied, we were straight on the road to school.

It is quite satisfying to not only have a successful treatment, but to also have such a brave patient understanding the treatment and after care. This literally it the first time he has kept a plaster on 👏🏻

05/05/2022

It just would not be studying without a bit of doodling.

Onwards with the dermatology module.

Louise Ray Podiatrist

13/09/2023

09/07/2023

14/02/2023

06/01/2023

01/01/2023

23/08/2022

23/08/2022

11/08/2022

15/07/2022

15/07/2022

14/07/2022

13/07/2022

12/07/2022

11/07/2022

30/06/2022

27/06/2022

05/05/2022

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Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm