I'm not even sure where to start.
so one morning back in August, I woke up and randomly had a severe ear infection in my right ear, loss of hearing, a lot of fluid, incredible swelling to the side of my face next to my ear and a bit on the side of my head, and intense pain. This lasted for two/three weeks and only cleared up after being giving Ciprofloxacin as other antibiotics didn't work for me, and told I possibly had a perforated eardumb although they couldnt check as it was so swollen. I still have tinnitus til now and am awaiting an appointment in December at an ENT Clinic. During and after, I noticed just under my ear, and half way down my neck, small hard lumps, maybe two or three (which I'm sure are lymph nodes). During infection it was the one just under my ear that felt as if it was blocked with fluid or something! My ear seemed to drain if I massaged it in an upward motion, relieving some pressure. I could never feel them before and it's only on the right hand side. im unable to really get to the doctors to check, as I'm shielding with my mum (who has just been diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy and recon 3 days ago) I feel like I'm overreacting but as it's two months later I thought they would have gone down (baring in mind they are small but definitely noticeable to touch) and I've heard a lot about how ear nose and throat are all connected and there are some bad possibilities. thought best to ask opinions online... sorry for waffling.. (p.s. I'm 26 year old male and I am a smoker also)