My lymph nodes are swollen after stretching ears?

So I gauged my ears to 1/2 inch about 3 years ago. I took them out about 2 months ago, hoping they would close. I decided to put them back in on Saturday, so I bought some 1/2 inch tapers and put them in. They didn't close up that much, so the actual stretch wasn't too bad.

The thing is, the glands behind my ears are REALLY swollen, and it's really uncomfortable. I'm not gonna take them out, because I know it's pretty normal, but is there anything I could do to ease the discomfort? I've been trying to smoke less, and I'm taking 600 mg ibuprofen once or twice a day.

Not smoking and taking them out are not options I'm considering, so anything else would be nice. Possibly working out, not working out, eating certain things, taking something like amoxicillin, ice or heat, anything you know that helps. It's Wednesday now, and it's getting really annoying. I'm a 19 year old male, average weight, normal diet, fairly consistent sleep patterns. I work out 3 or 4 times a week, but haven't since the stretch. Thank you.