Good morning and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I smoked very heavily and have COPD but no asthma. In all of the tests that you had, did you have a Spirometry? Spirometry is a simple test of how well your lungs work. For this test, you blow air into a mouthpiece and tubing attached to a small machine. I hate this test, lol but it is the best test that medicine offers for COPD.

I certainly understand the scariness associated with having your breathing interrupted and having a problem with clearing mucus. But you must take the reins and try medications that will help you. Sue and Otter suggest it and so do I.

Here is an explanation of what is going on in your lungs with asthma:

and COPD

Many inhalers that are available are used for both. And it is possible for your doctors to be wrong and in the future things might turn out to be different. But what you need right now is to treat what is happening now, not any "might be" in the future. And you are lucky because there are cross-over of treatments for both, so you will be ahead of the game.

When you feel panicked sit-down and slow your breathing down. It works wonders for

Ask your Pulmonologist for information about it, or call your local hospital about Pulmonary rehab. It teaches you how to control your symptoms and learning how to breathe effectively.

Would you consider pulmonary rehab?