From Kay SMy parents both had Tuberculosis and were in a sanatorium. That's where they met. That was 8 years before I was born. I don't see a genetic connection unless it is a predisposition to the lung disease. Or predisposition to Tb and MAC. That could be genetic right?I suppose they could have had MAC. There were no TB medications in the 30s and surgery was the cure. My mom had a lung removed and my dad part of one. My mom was in the sanatorium for a couple years. If one of them did have MAC or I have a predisposition to it from them that would be interesting. I've told this to all my docs which they seem to find it interesting but nothing more than that. They tested me for alpha 1 antitripsin and I was negative for that genetic marker. Thoughts? Anyone else have a parent with TB or MAC? I know one persons mom had MAC.THANKSKay

@kay strand, Kay, as I have mentioned before .. I had the 23andme genetic test which only test about 1% of our genetic code. It came back with a genetic code showing a genetic deficiency that can affect the lungs. I showed the report to Dr. Aksamit thinking he would totally discount it as the "spit test" .. but he was actually interested in it .. took the copy and made it a part of my medical report .. noting it:
PER MAYO REPORT: Alpha-1-antirypin heterozygosity, Z allele

From my File Cabinet: Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency The alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) protein protects the body, especially fragile lung tissues, from the damaging effects of a powerful enzyme called neutrophil elastase that is released from white blood cells. In AAT deficiency, a genetic mutation reduces levels of the protective protein in the bloodstream. AAT deficiency can lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), specifically emphysema, and liver disease. Smoking, which can inhibit what little AAT protein an affected person does have, increases the risk of lung disease.

Who knows quite how it all fits in .. but! Hugs! Katherine

Wow this is interesting. I have already done the Ancestry 'spit test' but I'm more interested in familial health problems. Both my parents were smokers. My mom had Lupus and my dad had hemochromatosis.