Have you and your doctor developed a formal action plan? It doesn't sound like it, because if you had, you'd probably know the answer to the question you asked. If not, this is the perfect time to introduce him to the idea, and for you to work on once for yourself. Part of good management of COPD is knowing when you should call your doc, when you should begin taking your at home meds and give him a call, or wait and see what happens. Here's a good example: http://www.lung.org/assets/documents/copd/copd-...

Many folks are bothered by weather- great you check your saturation - or as you thought it 'could be' some sort of cold or infection just starting. Sometimes no color- just grey or thicker mucus. also, when heat goes on air in house gets lots dryer- sometimes dehydration affects you - ideas a plenty- but impossible to guess. Keep those O2 sats circa 35% whatever you need to keep good sats especially if you are exerting more than sitting. Praise for you you try for 30 minutes a day one time or broken into 10-10-10, or 5-5-20... just keep moving with good oxygenation... of course if it hurts- rest...perhaps and smile :>)

I was told by my COPD nurse that as well as the discovery of brown mucus in the mornings, also he amount of mucus is criticle, it is an indication of lung infection, so antibiotics may be an answer

I have had 4 flare ups this winter. 2 in Jan and 2 again in Feb. At first the mucus was dark and colored and needed Antibiotics and prednisone plus my nebulizer and inhalers. the last two times it mucus was clear but thicker. I was again put on Antibiotics (Levolfoxacin 750 Mg) and prednisone (20 mg. pills decreasing amounts for 20 days) PLUS a Steroid Shot (methyprednisolne Acetate .80 MG/ML injection 1 ML). That was Feb. 20th. Today is Mar. 14th. and so far I am much better and my SOB is greatly improved. I have a annual breathing test scheduled for March 23rd. We can go from there. Normally as the weather get warmer so does my COPD and SOB. Hopefully this will occur again this summer.

To much rain humidity is very bothersome to some with copd