My Doc tested last yr, thought I was too young to be this advanced...This isnt my answer, but I hope it can give others some clarity.

I just got tested with the free kit last Wednesday. My Dr suspected the same thing. Won't know results till next appointment in July.
Most important part about being tested is that this alpha deficiency is genetic..

Wow kitties, that's a long time to wait. I'm pretty sure the results are back in about two weeks.

Yeah, got my test a few years back. It would be interesting to see where the test put all the people with emphysema on the bell curve...

Hugs,
Dennis

The free test is a finger stick test that must be administered by a physician and then it is mailed off.
I imagine my Dr will get the results in a week or so but my next pulmno. appointment isn't until July. I can wait till then for results because the only benefit in knowing would be to my kids who have seen my suffering and who still choose to be die hard smokers.
Mostly I'm just curious. Might explain my lifetime history of asthma.

i had one done also because my sister that never smoked died of this just before i was diagnosed, but mine was negative (thank goodness)
is that the one that is genetic & people get COPD (and liver disease isn't it) young & it moves fast.
i will pray yours turns out well kitten.
too bad they won't just call you with the results, i'd be dying of curiousity!

http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v489/n7417_supp/full/489S7a.html

There's other genes being studied. The Alpha project probably has the most funding. I've read a good bit and sorry failed to bookmark it all, but, the above link is a quick read.

My pulmnologist didn't know I was curious about my immune status so he sent me for extensive testing for autoimmune diseases.
Knowing the results of this alpha test won't change anything for me because I'm too far gone. It could help my kids but they won't listen. Mostly just curious.

While the test for alpha 1 deficiency is free or at least cheap, the treatment for it is extremely (as in unbelievably) expensive.

I work 6 days a week so I can have federal employees health insurance. Money would not be a problem if I was fixable. The problem is that I doubt at my age anything could be done to help me. My pulmno said it is something my kids should know about but at this time in their lives I don't think they would really care. Both smoke anything and everything they get their hands on even though they cough as badly as I do

i wish my kids would quit also.
that is interesting link that promise posted above about other genes might be involved besides the alpha1
where my sister had this and had never smoked that was double interesting as it covered the smoking part also.
yes, i smoked like a chimney, but i feel that there must be a gene involved with all of these things.
otherwise why do some people get cancer, some get COPD and some smoke for years & are healthy as horses.
i'm in no way saying smoking is good---i just think that article was interesting & that studies shouldn't stop just because it's got the tabacco link.
kitten; you say your dr suspected the same thing; did he mention any other genetic tests available yet?
just curious

He didn't mention anything. He would never have even tested had I not brought my free test. It must be administered by a Dr but its just a finger stick. Actually when I started asking questions like LVRS and other things I had seen on here he looked perplexed and said we would talk more about that next time. I guess I overstayed my visit with my little test. So sick of these prima donnas doctors.

He sent me for blood work after the appointment so the way I see it the next appointment in July will be dedicated to explaining the results....hence my questions from here like am I candidate for any kind of surgery will just get forgotten. He didn't seem to like me coming in with my own agenda instead of following his.

Kitties, some doctors are like that. It seems they have their 15 minutes all planned out. Don't try to get extra time or ask extra questions, that will cost them money. I haven't had a doctor I totally trust for a very long time. Ugh.