Right chest pain, what can this be?

[psychopika]

An uncomfortable / slightly tender feeling inside my chest, on the right side of my sternum started around the time that I felt like coming down with a cold, 2 weeks ago. That night when I first felt it I also felt tired, had a headache, heavy head, and a couple of new tender lymph nodes in my neck.

A few days into this cold, I had nausea and vomiting, and one time when I vomited I forced myself pretty badly and I felt it hurting again, more intensely, on the same side inside my chest, then it went away in a few minutes.

Then I didn't really have any other symptoms for a week, my cold also cleared, (I did get some occasional shortness of breath but I also suffer from anxiety) and this morning I slept on my right side in a more unusual position and when I woke up to change my position I felt this uncomfortable tickling feeling on the same right side and felt like coughing when I inspired.

I don't have a cough and I don't normally have any pain when I breathe in and out.

I have made an appointment to see a specialist doctor next week but I'm a bit worried of what it could be. I even thought about lymphoma in the chest, but it wouldn't have hurt/appeared at the same time as the cold symptoms, right?

I'm 28, smoked for 8 years but quit 4 years ago.

Thank you for any help!

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hi, the constant coughing could cause muscle strain and chest pain. Sometimes the pleura, the lining of the chest cavity and lungs can get inflamed causing pain with coughing. If with movement you are getting pain it is likely to be an inflammation of the skin, subcutaneous tissue or the bone. This can happen with injury, repetitive activity or an infection of the skin. Sometimes it can be costochondritis, inflammation of the sternal rib junction. Yoru consult may help detect the cause. In the meantime you can take OTC Ibuprofen pain medication. Ensure to take this medication after food to avoid gastritis. Take Care!

[psychopika]

Might it be intercostal muscle pain instead? It seems to become worse if I press on my ribs and such...