Hi. I've been gauging my ears for a few years now without any complications.(tearing,blowout,or infection) A week or so ago, I went from a 00g (had in for over a year,cleaned them regularly, and they were completely healed) to a 1/2". I used acrylic tapers and put them in until my lobes felt uncomfortable pressure. I left the tapers in, put the o-rings on either side and left them to stretch and heal until they comfortably went in all the way;which was a few days later. My left ear got super red,swollen,and painful. I took the jewelry out of that ear and am treating it with antibacterial soap peroxide and vitamin E oil. My right ear felt fine but i ended up taking the jewelry out, for no other reason than vanity and the symmetry of my ear lobes! Anyway, after cleaning my right ear and putting vitamin E oil on it as a precautionary measure; I felt a bb sized lump/knot on the front of the lobe right next to the guaged hole and it seems to be a part of the hole itself..? I gently squeezed it while I was cleaning it and it was slightly uncomfortable/painful, it seems to only be attached to the front side of my lobe, and it "rolls" around slightly between my fingers. The lump itself isn't necessarily bothersome but there's a dull pain, warmth, and what might be the start of a swelling lymph node. I'm not sure if my neck issue is because of my left ear or my right ear but I would appreciate some advice about what to do with both and what I should do with the bump to avoid future infection and to get rid of it completely, if at all possible.