This is where having an action plan can be very helpful. An action plan is actually sitting down with your doc and talking about what happens when you're beginning a "flare" or an exacerbation and what you can do to first recognize the signs and then know what to do about all of them. Generally the first thing that happens to me is a cough and when that cough begins to produce mucus and the mucus turns color, that's my first sign. At that point I start an antibiotic and call my doc. I tell him all my symptoms and everything I'm doing about them and ask if there's anything else I should be doing. Usually they simply tell me to let them know if things haven't gotten better in a couple of days; I don't think I've ever had to do that. Having an action plan is very helpful: you know what's going on and you're doing what your doc told you to do. It takes a lot of the unknown out of the equation and you're not wondering what you should do. It also does wonders in keeping you out of the hospital because you catch things before they get so bad you have no choice but the ER.

Start taking and keep taking 1000 mg of vitamin C two times a day, this will completely eliminate or greatly reduce your flare ups. It did for me and many others, you can buy it very cheaply on Swanson.com 250 capsules with rose hips for 12 bucks!!
Then go to Amazon.com buy a product called Sambucol chewable (only the chewable is effective) for around 10 bucks. When you start feeling a breathing issue chew 1 Sambucol tablet every 15 minutes until your breathing and heartrate go back to normal.
These two supplememts have saved me quite a few ambulance rides, they work!
@A MyCOPDTeam Member

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A MyCOPDT...

Just found this!! Jean
Symptoms of COPD flare-ups do vary from person to person. Increased sob is a fairly common one, but it is sometimes hard for people to recognize when sob is worse than usual. Lowered O2 sats are a related symptom, but unless you have an oximeter and know what your sats are normally, you may not recognize this symptom. Increased use of O2 is also common; using O2 for more activities or for activities that have never required O2 before. Again, if you really haven't paid attention to what your normal is, then you may not recognize this. Increased coughing and increased mucus production are both symptoms. Mucus that is a different color than usual is another. Running a temperature can be a symptom for some people. Sore throat, soreness in ribs and shoulders, using your shoulder and rib muscles to help you breathe. Having no energy and feeling tired, really tired can be symptoms. Not being able to do in the gym something you did yesterday with relative ease is a symptom.

A flare is usually one thing that may change, like your breathing patterns or O2 usage. It's something that may last for 24 hours but not much longer, and then it's gone. Unless your breathing causes an acute episode of sob that might require O2, they generally don't require any intervention by a doc. Part of what you and your doc might want to discuss with your action plan is what you can do for an increase in one symptom. An exacerbation is a worsening of your general COPD symptoms and usually requires medical attention and treatment (antibiotics, prednisone, other treatments, including hospitalization) and usually last for a week or more.

Thanks Steve! Worth a try!

Barb when u find out could you please let me k now thank you