Thank you both! I've been doing what the doctor ordered, taking the antibiotics and antiviral meds and trying not to think too hard about everything. The bump in my mouth seems to have gotten smaller and flatter...it really seems to be fading back into the tissue. I was feeling really positive about this, but then the other day I found a hard, immovable, pea-sized lump on the right side of my neck, just below my jaw. At first I thought it was just some weird neck anatomy I'd never noticed until I started looking, but after poking around on the other side, it became pretty clear that this was only occurring on the right side. After looking at some anatomy, it looks like it could be a swollen submandibular lymph node.

As far as my other symptoms (ear ache, sore throat, jaw/neck pain, all only on the right side), they come and go depending on the day. Two days ago, I had sore throat pain severe enough that I was sucking on cough drops all day. Yesterday I felt really good, almost normal. Today, the ear pain is back.

I'm not sure what to think. At this point, I'm almost certain I'll be heading back to the ENT and demanding some sort of explanation. I've never had ear pain or sore throat pain that comes and goes from one day to the next like this. It seems strange that only after I've been given medication that the oral lesion would start to disappear but one of my lymph nodes would become hard and slightly enlarged. But then again, I'm no doctor!

Thanks again for your support. I've been browsing the forums and all of your stories are incredible and your positivity is so inspirational. =)