I am a 36 yr old white female I haven't ever had much of any medical issues. Just last week I noticed bumps on the back & sides of my tongue that I had never noticed before. They are small in the front & get LARGER as they proceed to the back of the tongue. The ones in the front are rather painful compared to those in the back, yet the ones in the back create a slight discomfort when I swallow. Accompanying these bumps as well is a whitish-yellow film on my tongue. Then yesterday afternoon I noticed a slight discomfort just inside my left ear, as the evening passed I noticed there was now a small, zit-like, bump just at the top of the lobe, & just inside the ear. As evening became night, it became more painful with a burning sensation, the same symptoms, minus the bump, became sometime during the night, as I woke this a.m. to both ears appearing the same. Just above the lobes, there are about dime sized, squishy, & extremely tender & pain causing knots, while the entire area surrounding them is red & swollen, & it continues to worsen. As now I sit typing & am noticing a strong pain starting to shot from my ear, into the back of my neck & up into my head. As well, looking around, things seem to look, or I seem to be seeing things, "oddly".
What could be the cause of these things?? Could it be serious?? Do I need to go to the E.R.?

We can't diagnose here. Family physician should be able to help. If you are concerned, and it appears that way, go to the ER or walk in clinic.

I'm guessing that you have an infection.
I had a similar infection when a post fell out of a root canal in a tooth.
Call your doctor or dentist's answering service or machine for the earliest appt tomorrow. ER is overdoing it unless you get a fever.

You need to see your doctor. I would not see where a ER is needed. If a ER was needed you would not have been posting here but rushing to an ER.

Make an appointment with your doctor.