Bad lymph nodes

[The Human Brain]

The nodes in my neck are really bugging me...mostly the ones under my chin. They hurt. I try to feel them but don't know what I'm feeling--whether it's nodes or muscle or what. I guess I can feel some firm, tender things in there. I've also been having this ear fullness and crackling, which has been causing an ache down the sides of my neck. There's also little sore spots behind my ears, which may be related to that, and I understand that it might be eustachian tube dysfunction.

I have a sore throat, I guess, and a cough, although it's not as bad as it was. No problems swallowing, although it's uncomfortable, and no problems talking except, again...uncomfortable with all the other troubles. No fever, occasional headaches. Sometimes a stuffy nose. I have/had periodontal disease, and they did one of those scraping and planing things, but I've not been brushing the way they told me to. ;-)

My main concern is that I'm a smoker, so stuff like this freaks me out, and I'm terrified to go to a doctor. And I'm working myself into a state over every little thing now...

Is this an infection? Could it be from periodontal disease? My teeth aren't really bothering me, except the occasional ache, maybe...Or are my ears worse than I think?

Edit

Sorry, these are submandibular, I think...under my chin but not right under the bone...further down. If that makes sense.