almost died first asthma attack

my first asthma attack was almost my last.i have many questions hope to get some input from y'll.i was fine it was early am then suddenly i had alot of pain in my chest and could not draw a breath(no not heart)i had been weezing for weeks but i thought that i was just overweight and out of condition.i live far from towns and did not have a dr. i chewed two asprin and went to bed to calm down.next day not much better i went to dr. office. where they yelled at me telling me i could die, because i did not and would not go to hospital.my 02 sat was 93. no movement on peakflow meter...yes i am stupid as well as stuburn.i now know better and will go to hospital the next time. questions are.. for the next 4 days i was out of breath just walking a few steps. dr said use the inhaler every4 hrs unless i was out of breath then every two. i was also given prednisone just for 7 days.i have been getting better everyday it has been 7 days. but 2 days ago, coughing started like a bark. i have some stuff comming up with the coughing. is this normal? how long does it take to get over an attack? are they always so bad?by the way the pain in my lungs went on for 3 days they felt heavey spongy like. today i can draw a good size breath and not much out of breath. do i cont to use inhaler every4 hrs? i am 52 no lung problems ever no heart problems no med insurance.