The Enfield Support Group has been continuing to hold our monthly meetings and, on 8^th October, hosted a mini information day at St Aldhelm’s Church, Edmonton. 

The day was well attended and our speakers were Dr Arvind Kaul, Consultant Rheumatologist at St George’s Hospital, Tooting, and Komal Dadlani, who is a yoga instructor all the way from South America, who has lived with lupus for many years and who you may have joined in one of the online yoga sessions that she hosts for the LUPUS UK on Wednesday evenings.

We were also joined by Chanpreet Walia and Alida Horne from National Office.

Dr Kaul gave a fascinating talk about current lupus therapies and the impact of patients’ mental well-being on the efficacy of those treatments.  It was fascinating to hear, in clear terms, that poor mental health can have a direct impact on the success of treatments prescribed to lupus patients.  Dr Kaul was kind enough to take questions throughout his talk and afterwards.  The talk was very well received, and it is fair to say everyone in the room learned something from him.  We are very grateful to him for giving up his Saturday morning for us – and traveling to see us during a rail strike!

We were then treated to a chair yoga session by Komal, and she shared her experience of having lived with lupus for twenty years.

The group then enjoyed lunch together and the opportunity to chat freely until it was time to head home.

We feel that the day was a real success, with the group having found some new members and attendees signing up for the 31-mile challenge.

We will now be planning future events in addition to our monthly meetings, to build on this re-launch of the group post-covid.

Susan John, Edie Duncan and the Committee of the Enfield Lupus Group.