For me. my chest can get tight, mucus turns yellow, green or brown. I get SOB just thinking about doing anything. I can't easily breathe using my diaphragm, end up using my chest muscles...

Hugs,
Dennis

Thanks Dennis, My only symptom has been increasing SOB with activity and trouble sleeping. No other symptoms associated with COPD.

But I have had several symptoms associated with poor blood flow to the extremities. I had my pcp start a work up on my circulatory system and heart, but it is a slow process.

Thanks again Gary

I will agree with Dennis & add wheezing, decline in O2 levels.

I know some of my triggers so I try n avoid them....When my daily activity that I usually get thru starts giving little hints that something is getting seriously wrong, like an unproductive cough, o2 levels dropping, may or maybe sputum colour change, I start a 3 day azithromycin and 5 day 20mg prednisone regime....start taking mucolyte to bring up phelm congestion.....I have constant chest tightness so I don't use that as a sounding board.

If it doesn't clear I now need to go to hospital to get treated properly.....
Ive had 7 stays in 3 years thru wrong diagnoses, only after 2 weeks intubated that they treated me for COPD.....last week was my first attack in 2 years....only cause I self treated n I developed phnemonia n 2 lungs that were not moving any air....

gwapo: You bring up a good point, I never considered the possibility of viral pneumonia.

Thanks Gary

My symptoms are the same as described in Jarca's thread about excerbations. Textbook. Gary, if you don't have a nebulizer get one and have a Dr prescribe liquid Albutrol. I'm sure you probably have one. My nebulizer has saved me from countless Dr visits and hospitalizations. In any event, please don't wait too long to get medical care if needed, since time is of the essence. The difference between life and death in some cases. Praying for you. Health and blessings.

u all answer what I knew is COPD EXACERBATION
I'm in one now and have been for over a week. I thought last night when I had a horrible tie breathing even with my air (oxygen on)
why is it that spouses get weird when we get worse?
Anyway.....I do all you all say to do and take al my meds except I don't have a zip of anti meds right now...since when I stated this mess I was just coming off some from anotherr illness they didn't put me back onanother one.
Yuck....so the spit up is clear finally and my caugh is little....I just had SOB so bad last night...who know right?
Well....I almost went to the ER...but waited it out.
So here I am can't sleep and up again.
I am breathing ok right now with my hose on.....I'm suppose to call in the morning over the 20mg of pred I been on for a week...
wonder if they will down me over the last few nights of breathing not so good?
I don't even pretent I know anything about this COPD as I should.

I guess I forgotten a lot....I feel better and then forget....has that ever happen to anyone else?

I hope not....

Best wishes to the rest of you all......
I hope you doing good today...it's a daily check isn't it.

hugs
Ruthie

Hi Ruthie....I never forget I overlearn and then play doctor...We do not have insurance here so its all cash upfront or no treatment even if you are dying......one reason I try and be pro-active in order to save money...last one backfired big-time...if you feel out of sorts then go to ER...

Peter...

Gary, For me at the 1st signs of an exacerbation, I call the doctor, and then reach for the meds. Your quicker response can lessen the impact of that occurrence, and believe me from someone who wasn't always careful about it, the more you lessen the impact the much better off you will be. Hang in there and take care. Bill

i'm beleive like bill---
if your dr gave you z-pack to have on hand he must want you to take them at the first signs of a flare up. and what will it hurt to try this once since you are kind of new to this disease?(i have to go in & gt checked to get a script) he must feel that you need to have them on hand for this reason.
we all get different symptoms and learn what they are over time, but i "forgot" and made excuses and look where it got me.
i don't know what you are experiencing, but if you dont feel "right", don't let it get worse.
prayers are with you ((((HUGS))))
p.s. my first signs seem to be no energy (i feel lazy), then i usually get a tightening in my chest, then 02 starts to drop even sitting (mine was doing great before this) and then things keep adding up until i feel horrid.
(btw; i have an "unproductive" cough so i don't get to see the color of mucus---but now that i'm on antibiotics things are sure getting "productive" and coming up so i take that as a sign i'm clearing up)

hey jarca, we order some of our meds on the internet and we just keep some antibiotics on hand thru them. I'm really glad we had them because I'm feeling much better today and I didn't have to drive 45 minutes to the doctor's.

Ok Gary, I don't think I've had one either, since my hospitalization originally in January.

The past week though, I''ve had cough, congestion, fatigue, O2 gets lower with exertion, but once I sit and breath with PLB, it goes right up to 96, sometimes 97. Head hurts, ears feel plugged, nose is plugged. I think it's a dang COLD!!!!

Not running a fever, so I don't think I am having one now, but I go to the Dr's tomorrow. This is the 1st time I've been sick SINCE being in the hospital, so not sure what this is. I"ll find out tomorrow.

ormally I am on Spiriva once a day, Symbicort twice a day, and albuterol inhalers 3x'day as needed. I'm thinking of asking for a nebulizer treatement in dr's office tomorrow, and a script too, if the regular dr can write that for me. IF not, i'll call my PULM.

Hope you feel better soon hon!!!!!

Hugs,

Boo

I'm just like DennyGene but I'm alright until my mucus turns yellow. It's a sure indication that I have a serious respiratory infection and I cannot breathe. It also means a for sure trip to the doctor to get antibiotics and prednisone. I truly cannot speak about what causes them - for me it usually starts with a severe sinus infection and those seem to be very weather sensitive. Be very careful with what we call exacerbations - they can very quickly put you into the hospital stage.
I am really careful because I'm antibiotic resistant and MRSA positive. I've been on I.V. drugs like vancomycin when in the hospital but normally my doctor will try to avoid it getting to that point by prescribing one of the 10 day powerful ones like avelox although it I don't mess around, cipro will quite often get me back under control along with the prednisone.
BIG HUGS TO YOU and please calll your doctor and let him know how you're feeling. He may want to see you or prescribe something else. I know that I'm fortunate in being Medicare age and only having to worry about the co-pays, deductables and lousy donut hole and I'm well aware of the millions of people who have no insurance out there.

Thank you all for your replies.

I just finished my z-pak today, and I have been resting the past 5 days ( also eating a lot of chicken noodle soup ).

I seem to me feeling better, and tomorrow I will (slowly) see if my tolerance for activity has improved.

Thanks again, Gary