Thank you for writing your post and especially "I had no sense whatsoever that anything was wrong with my lungs at time of diagnosis, and yet … here I am."
In my family my Mother died with Emphysema, my brother died with COPD and Bronchiectasis, and here I am with Bronchiectasis myself. They were both smokers, I was not....... BUT AND HOWEVER ..... I was around both and especially with Mother who was a heavy smoker. Not saying that environment alone, smokers, is what caused my BE but it could have added to all the reasons I have Bronchiectasis and maybe a genetic factor there also. My belief, as I have mentioned before in a post, my opinion is: "It is never just one thing rather an accumulation of things". For me, in particular, with acquiring Bronchiectasis, multiple things in my life's journey on this earth could have put me at risk for Bronchiectasis. Don't think I, we, can truly say what caused our BE.
Why I said 'glad you posted your remark' has to do with wanting my "baby" sister to see a pulmonologist to discuss possibly having a C Scan. She nearly always has to clear her throat, she has had several bouts with bronchitis, colds frequently throughout her life, Covid 2x, and is around a dear friend who smokes plus, as I, around family members that smoked...and she did smoke for a short time.
Hope I am wrong with being concerned for her with my suggesting she be tested. I am sure you also are concerned for your sibling.
I sent her your post. I want her to see your last sentence. I would rather she error on the side of caution and see a pulmonologist to rule it out or.....know.... (hopefully it would be negative) and have an early diagnosis if found.
Again, thanks. Your sentence and experience just might give her some food for thought with what I have discussed and suggested she give thought to.
Barbara