I have had asthma since I was nine years old, and I am now 42. I CAN NOT take Advair, it almost killed me. Not all asthma medication are good for every asthmatic. In my twenties, Serevent started to cause me problems and I had to stop taking it. A few years ago, my asthma got out of control, and my new doctor prescribed me Advair. Every time I took it, it impaird my breathing dramatically. Thank God my doctor changed my medication. I couldn't understand why I reacted so bad to Advair until I learned that Salmeterol was another name for Serevent.
Talk to your doctor to change your medication, trust your instincs, and live a healthier life, it well help you in the end. When you find the right medication, your asthma will be under control and living a healthier life will ensure that it stays that way. Also,knowing that you have a medication that helps you breath when you can not might help you to not have panic attacks.
While it is possible that the Advair® HFA (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol) could have had something to do with your developing shingles, it is very unlikely. The risk of death you mention is a very, very small risk. Advair® HFA (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol) is generally well tolerated by most people with asthma but more than a few side effects have been reported, especially with the dose that contains the highest amount of fluticasone. If you can do OK with your asthma, you are wise not to take it. But, if you need it to control your asthma you should ask your doctor for the dose that has the lowest amount of fluticasone. It is also possible that some of the symptoms you describe, such as headache, shakes, racing heart, were caused by the other ingredient in Advair® HFA (fluticasone propionate and salmeterol) called Serevent® (salmeterol).
Many of the symptoms you describe occur with panic attacks and are relieved by leading a healthy life style. If that alone doesn't control the panic attacks, there is good, effective medicine for treatment of panic and you should request it from your doctor.