Asthma out of the blue, Advair experience?

Hi everyone

This is my first post. I have been feeling short of breath for about 6 weeks now. All of this started with a pain in my right side. Went to see GI doc and he did an endoscopy, gastritis was diagnosed ( I have a history of reflux, and had surgery for it 8 years ago ), anyway about a week afterwards came the shortness of breath along with a terrible dry cough that seems to come from way down in my lower chest. I get the SOB when I start moving around, and the coughing gets much worse. I also have chest tightness and a raw feeling throat. My doctor did EKG etc. I have to see my cardiologist on Fri. I have had all tests Echo, stress ( several ) etc. Last stress being a year ago. I am a 44 year old female. I have always had "outdoor" allergies. I have never had asthma, ...until now it seems. My doc says that's what it is because of my symptoms and I didn't do well on the blowing test in her office. She gave me Albuterol and Advair. I took the albuterol for the first time yesterday, just one puff ( I am one of those scared of medication people) I was a little anxious after, kinda racy feeling but my breathing did improve. I have not yet taken the Advair. I feel lousy today. I live in Boston and the pollen counts etc have been awful the last couple of days. This is so new to me! I don't understand the whole asthma thing, and I would appreciate anyone's advice or opinion. Please if you have been on Advair or are on it, whats it been like? Has it helped? Does this even sound like asthma out of the blue at my age? Thanks in advance for all your help.

Thank you for the links.

The topic of GERD related asthma is very interesting to me since I have GERD and since this all seems to be coming on together with that. I will talk with my GI doc when i see him this week. 

Thanks again

Tracey