Our family has had more than our share of IPF. Mom was diagnosed with IPF in 2001 and passed away at home in March 2006. In October 2006 my Dad was diagnosed with IPF and passed away in December 2010. Dad lived with me until he passed away. My Mom’s sister was diagnosed with IPF in 2017 and passed away in 2020 from a heart attack.
To date, no one else in our family has been diagnosed with IPF. However, a CT scan in 2015 revealed some scarring in my lungs. After numerous tests including a lung biopsy and pulmonary function test. I was diagnosed with Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC). I was placed on medication for the MAC however I lost a majority of my sight so the medications were halted. Fortunately, I regained a significant amount of my sight with some permanent damage to my optic nerve.
Our family certainly has its share of lung afflictions. IPF is such a debilitating disease but there are now medications to slow the progression of the disease which were not available when my parents were battling IPF.