polymyositis genetic

I lost my mother to polymyositis in August of 2008 after a 7 year battle with Polymyositis. She gradually got worse as the years went by and ended up in a wheel chair.  In May of 2008 it began affecting her lungs and breathing. She ultimatley died of respiratory failure.  My maternal grandmother had the exact same symptoms and downward spiral but was never diagnosed with PM. I'm not sure it was even talked about way back when, but I believe she had the same thing. I have just turned 50 and worry about this dreadful disease.  Doctors at the Mayo Clinic told me it was NOT hereditary in 2006-2007.  Now I know studies are taking place to investigate this further.

As far as doctors know polymyositis is not genetic. My boyfriends father has the disease and he and his wife asked many doctors this same question before they decided to have children. All the doctors told was that at that time there was nothing to suggest the disease is genetic. This was 20 years ago though just so you know

It's strange that they say this is not genetic, when my Grandmother, Mother, and both my Aunts have the symptoms and my Mother is about to have the tests to confirm the diagnosis. I have many of the symptoms as well, just at the beginning stages. How do they know this is not a genetic disorder?

I just lost my mother August 22 and an autopsy is being done I am convinced it was her polymyositis that was not diagnosed until June of this year and I believe now that I am learning more about it that she has had it for years she ended up in the hospital and a week later die to respitory failure she dies they thought at first pneumonia but there was no infection so they called it ARDS

My mother just died from it I am convinced and her father passed away in March of 1969 they said he had MS but I bet he too had Polymyositis

My friend was diagnosed with polymyositis a year ago, and he drinks alcohol several times a month. Wanted to know may it affect his health?