Hey,

I know what you mean, I noticed my swelling/lump one day and have no idea how long it had been there. Thinking back, about a month before I noticed it I had a some kind of virus that affected my chest making me cough horrendously for a few days and looking at my symptoms and the fact it's likely to be costochondritis I wonder if the coughing was responsible for the swelling in the chest bone as I think I read somewhere excessive coughing can irritate or trigger it. I'm thinking maybe my right chest wall has always protruded more or been thicker than the other side, but I didn't pick up on it till it was inflamed by the onset of costochondritis after the coughing? 
During the time I was waiting to be seen for scans etc. it did definitely feel quite large and prominent. Initially I saw a nurse for an exam and she got a doctor in to feel it but they weren't concerned, but after about a month I felt it had got bigger and harder so I went back and saw the same doctor who said she wasn't happy as it had grown and that's when she referred me for an urgent chest scan. I think her saying she wasn't happy and ordering the urgent scan panicked me more, but I am also truly grateful at how swiftly she acted, I feel lucky to have received the quick care as you hear so much these days about people not having access to doctors and not getting important appointments that can make all the difference.

I hope this has, I'm not sure if helped us the right word, as I know it's worrying. Once again, I'm keeping everything crossed for you for an outcome like mine 

xx

That's actually mad as the past 10 days I have had an infection of some sort with a chesty tickly cough! I was thinking the coughing might have had something to do with mine too! 

I rang the radiology department today to see how long the waiting list was for the chest x-ray and they said I can go in tomorrow morning. I'm so thankful that I'm being see so quickly. I'm going away this weekend for the first time since covid started to a concert and it's my little girls 3rd birthday next week so I'm glad I should have some answers and hopefully be reassured before so I can enjoy these events without this constant dread in the back of my mind. I will update how I get on with the xray ️

Ahh that's great they are seeing you quickly so, like you say, you can get some answers and I'm sure and hopeful, some reassurance. It could be the same thing has affected both of us and sent us down this path.

Will be thinking of you and sending positive vibes 

xx

I would love an update on this. I have these exact same symptoms, but can't find anything online. However mine is over on my left side and I haven't had any sort of coughing.

It feels like a hard lump, but doesn't have defined edges. It's kinda hard to describe. It's hard, yet in some spots it feels like nodules within it? You couldn't tell from looking at it, but I can definitely feel it and it feels like my ribs are uneven. It's very strange. Naturally I'm terrified. I'm in London on holiday. I don't head home for another week and even then I will be in NYC and it will be another 10 days before I make it home to SF. I'm trying to look up ultrasound places in London to pay out of pocket. If it's something, I don't want to wait. Sigh... Any update from you Emmalou8 would be good to hear how you netted out. 

Hey, 

sorry to hear you're going through this, especially while you're away from home and on holiday.

I understand how worrying it can be, like I said to Emmalou8, the anxiety and fear I felt was awful, plus I didn't tell anyone except my husband, but I never let him know the extent of my worry and concern. 

If you can find and afford somewhere reliable and reputable to get a scan, I would say go for it. If it puts your mind at rest  it would be worth it till you can have things looked into further when you get home. But I'm not sure how things like that work here, with you being on holiday. 

I too hope everything went okay for you Emmalou8.

Take care

xx

Thank you for your kind reply. I'll update as I explore further in case it helps anyone else. It's crazy that there just doesn't seem to be much information out there that describes this issue. 

As an update, I just finished having my exam and my ultrasound. The doctor said they didn't see any concerning lumps and landed on costochondritis. So I feel rather relieved. Thanks for taking the time to post.