What is preterm labor like!?

I have had a sinus infection for the past week and a half but today I have had really bad pain in my lower back. It's just this massive pain in my right kidney area. I have a high pain tolerance but this is just horrible. I was washing dishes and my crotch just kept like electrocuting me lol I don't know how to explain it. It's just this shock of pain that would make me stop what I was doing for a minute. I went to the bathroom and I believe I lost my mucus plug. I haven't had any discharge at all this entire pregnancy. I have actually been completely dry down there. Tmi but this big glob of mucus came out. My boyfriend won't be home for another hour and we live an hour away from the hospital. I can manage the pain until he gets home. After I went to the bathroom and laid down, the pain in my vagina has slightly eased up. The pain in my back isn't as bad as it was a few minutes ago either but I'm on my left side so maybe that's why. Does anyone know if this could be preterm labor? I'm only 35 weeks today.