smoke exposure

[crud]

I have COPD.  I was breathing great until I was recently exposed to smoke from a house fire.  I was wearing a paper mask while working in my barn organizing some tools.  I suddenly smelled what seemed like a strong smell of smoke.  I wasn't sure so I took another breath through my nose and it smelled like really thick smoke.  So I quickly walked outside and saw the house on the adjoining property was engulfed in flames.  The house on fire sat about 500 feet away from my barn.  I stood there holding my breath and watching for a moment while a thick brown cloud of smoke hovered over my barnyard.  Without breathing any more breaths I jumped in my pick up and exhaled.  Prior to taking another breath I quickly put on a dual chambered respirator.  I then walked upwind getting completely out of the smoke.  I suppose I ended up breathing in about 3 or 4 breaths of smoke polluted air before I was able to get to my respirator.  At the time I didn't think that much of it because the smoke didn't seem to effect me.  But the next day I noticed I became fatigued just getting a few things out of the back of my van.  Then walking back from my van to my shop I noticed I became short of breath.  The following day after that I noticed I was very short of breath while at work.  It has now been 3 weeks since the smoke exposure and I still feel short of breath with less than usual air flow.  I have chest tightness and sometimes feel like I am almost suffocating.  I feel like there just isn't as much air flow as I had prior to the exacerbation.  Another symptom is that I constantly feel lightheaded.  My oximeter says my oxygen levels are around 96 to 98%--even with activity.  Since the symptoms have began I have taken a tapered dose of Prednisone and started taking Symbicort.  I finished the Prednisone about 4 days ago and stopped taking the symbicort about a week ago.  At this time I am not taking any medications at all.  My primary doctor has became my Pulmonologist--but he has been on vacation.  So I went to a walk in clinic to have them listen to my lungs.  The doctor said that my lungs sounded very clear.  His oppinion was that the amount of smoke I described inhaling would not have done new damage to my lungs.  He felt that I have exacerbated my lungs and they would probably return to the level they were prior to the smoke exposure.  But after 3 weeks I am very scared and I feel terrible.  I have plans to see my Pulmo this coming wednesday where I intend to ask for a new xray, ABG, and possibly Spirometry test.  The reason for my post is I would like to other opinions.  I guess a few of my questions would be as follows:  1#  Does it seem likely that the smoke exposure I described would cause new lung damage, or is it more likely I am experiencing temporary symptoms?  Its been 3 weeks--Is that an indication that these symptoms may be permanent, or is it possible to have a symptoms last this long and eventually go back to normal?  I guess what I am trying to understand is the probabilities of permanent versus temporary symptoms from an acute smoke exposure like I have described?        

[jeannec01]

I read a post on this website from a doctor that bronchitis DOES NOT show up on
an Xray.  I have been wheezing since the first week of March, had a cortizone shot
and also a shot of antibiotic (followed up by 10 days of oral antibiotic) and STILL
I am wheezing.  Is it possible they gave me the wrong antibiotic??
I am using Advair 100/50 twice a day and also albuterol treatments.
I have scalp psoriasis (which I know is an autoimmune disease) and maybe the
"inflammation" factor is at play here.  I don't know.
Any thoughts?

[crud]

Ooops--I meant to post my previous post where a doctor could read it