THE Thyroid Foundation of North Cumbria (TFNC) held its regular monthly support group meeting in Penrith.

Many symptoms of thyroid disease both under and overactive (hypothyroidism and hyper-thyroidism) came into the discussion. Extreme tiredness, lethargy, severe aches and pains, dizziness, weight problems and thyroid tests. One man told how he was always icy-cold and explained there was a time when he simply dreaded having an accident which might result in his unconsciousness, as his greatest fear was, with his skin and body so icy cold, no-one would ever imagine he was still alive!

Thyroid disease can strike anyone, young and old, male or female, at any time and letters, telephone calls and e-mails arrive at the TFNC every day requesting information. Some of these are from patients, some from family and friends who desperately need information on how to handle this debilitating problem like, for instance, a woman in North Lancashire, whose eight-week-old son was diagnosed and put on medication for hypothyroidism when he was just four-weeks-old .and, apart from just one small general leaflet handed to her by the local hospital, she had been unable to gain further information about her baby's condition and how he might be affected by this disorder. The TFNC has a full range of clear, easy to understand information leaflets available, covering all aspects of thyroid conditions for both young and old, and also produces a bi-monthly journal.

The next TFNC Support Group Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 17, at 6.30pm when a limited number of tickets will be made available for a forthcoming (medical) speakers meeting.

The TFNC "Fund-Raising" Coffee Morning with Tombola, Quickie Raffle, Bric-a-brac, Plant, Cake, a selection of Table-Top Stalls..and more.begins at 10am in the Evergreen Hall (Penrith) on Saturday.

For further information send a self-addressed envelope to: TFNC PO Box 111 Penrith CA11 8GB Tel/Fax: 01768-862567 E-mail: TfncThyroid@aol.com Look at the updated webpage at www.members.aol.com/TfncThyroid/TfncThyroid.htm.