ChocChip - my job involves looking after students at university from time to time, and the one thing I would say to you at the moment is - go see your tutor, explain that you have medical issues at the moment and that you are really struggling, and ask for a deferment. I know you say that the fees coming in next year are a deterrent, but believe me, a degree now is not the be-all and end-all of your world. Deferring for a year (at least) would give you breathing space and help you not only to get to grips with your medical problems, which can't be helped by all the pressure that you feel you are under.
You don't have to stay with the GP, or you could stay and demand referral to a respiratory specialist for a second opinion, as you're getting nowhere - I'm wondering if you have COPD which often presents like asthma but is a completely different diagnosis.
You sound like you have a wonderfully patient husband, and you are so lucky in that.
It is extraordinarily difficult when family and friends don't understand the pressures you're under and the discomfort you feel - but you must remember that this is YOUR life, not theirs, and you want to sort this out, if only for the sake of your relationship. Even your dog sounds sad - my cat bites me when he's miserable, so perhaps he's trying to sympathise....
and believe me, housework is not the end of the world. You are lucky in not having to work, but if you were not pressuring yourself with the Uni course, you might feel more like keeping house (says I, who is the most unhousewifely person in the world...)
You're not whinging, you are being honest with yourself and with us, and I commend you for that. You ought to print off your post and take it both to your tutor and your GP - we can often write things down better than we can verbalise them, in difficult circumstances.
Good for you, chopchip - you are facing up to things, not at all wallowing. If I were you, though, I would seriously consider deferrring.
Btw, if you weren't studying for the rest of the academic year, you could find yourself a little job maybe, which would help your self-confidence - and you could then save that money to pay for the rest of your university fees. What do you think?