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.

Well said Jean
Take care Eric