Can albuterol be used alone without a maintenance inhaler?

When first diagnosed with asthma I was prescribed an albuterol inhaler by my PCP, without talk about anything more needed. Then I saw a lung doctor who prescribed Symbicort twice daily, which I took for 10 months until I was told it was no longer available through my insurance. So I was put on 500 mg of Wixela instead, which I took once a day for 6 months when I discontinued on June 6 because of side effects. At that time my asthma was pretty much in control. At least I had lost the cough, even though I still had chest tightness.

Side effects included thinning of the skin. I would get red blotches on the extremities without bruising. At one time I had three blood spots on my ankle, causing it to be sore. The cataracts in my eyes have worsened, and I noticed some blurring, of deep concern because I only have central vision in one eye and have had surgery for glaucoma in the past. I was also having a problem with high BP.

I am 88 years of age. I read on a Mayo Clinic site that geriatric patients are more likely to develop high BP and osteoporosis from corticosteroids.

After discontinuing the Wixela I met with the lung doctor to see if I could use the albuterol if and when needed. She told me that if I used it without a maintenance inhaler it would be life threatening. She was unwilling to work around my side effects or prescribe anything different. And refused to treat me further. The problem is that no one in her UBMD Pulmonary division is able to take me on as a patient because of this. This is a group of University of Buffalo medical providers that works with the Jacobs School of Medicine here in Buffalo. And their lung practitioners, at least on paper, seem to be the most knowledgeable about lungs in Western New York. I unfortunately chose the wrong person to treat me and now I'm blackballed.

Before I started the Symbicort treatment I was diagnosed with "moderate persistent asthma." Then, 16 months later, after the corticosteroid treatment they are saying it's "mild, intermittent asthma."

But my central question is: Can someone explain why using an albuterol inhaler without Symbicort, Wixela, or other maintenance inhalers is dangerous? Albuterol is nonsteroidal, which I think is to be preferred over the long term with someone my age (at least that's what I've been reading). And why would a PCP prescribe albuterol alone?

I apologize for taking so much time trying to describe my problem. And I'm grateful for any help I can get in understanding this.