Just as a thought, I may had been actually "opening up" new areas in my lungs with the recent nebbing.
My lungs were clear two years ago, according to the CT Scan done then, but when I had a CT Scan done last May, they said my lungs had gotten worse in comparison to two years ago.
I felt minor soreness on the lower right side of my ribs that seemed to come-and-go. I thought it was either plugs or just muscle spasms from the coughing.
Added note to paws:
The airplane trip sounds too horrible to just laugh...like that little girl who got kicked off way back when, eh?! My problem may be worse, if I'm too busy coughing I can't speak and the wife has to explain everything!! However, I can really relate to having to hold back coughing for so long, I've had tried doing it a few times on the train or work or something where I was surrounded by other people (some looking at me).