Tongue and Throat Problems

I am a 23 year old male from the US and have had no previous problems with my mouth before now.  Never had braces or even a cavity so all this is very strange to me.  I have had my Wisdom Teeth removed but I still have my Tonsils so here is the story...

About 2 months ago I noticed a few taste buds near the back of my tongue had grown in size and began to hurt.  These taste buds are located in the middle of my tongue right in front of the row of my Circumvallate papillae taste buds and are raised and very hard.  At first I thought it might be due to allergies but after a visit to the Dr. I ruled that.  I have also started to develop a light yellow film on top of my tongue that is hard to scrape off with a toothbrush.  Soon after the taste bud incident I noticed 3 spots on the roof of my mouth began to hurt, it is more of light burning/sore feeling.  These spots are not raised and they are not bumps, just part of the roof of my mouth and are about the size dime.  

What I find very strange about all this is I went to the Dentist and he said it all looked normal.  I even asked if this might be a light case of Thrush and he insisted it wasn't so I agreed and went on my away, possibly accounting these symptoms to stress.  I recently graduated and at the moment I am having a hard time finding a job.  Also, within the last 2 weeks I have began to have the feeling that something is stuck in my throat all the time, almost to the point where if I swallow wrong it causes me to gag.  When I look down my throat it appears that the bumps are there too and are slightly irritated.  

What's odd about all these symptoms is as soon as I eat something or drink something they all recede for a short time, anywhere from 30 minutes to and hour.  I have been gargling with warm salt water constantly and using Chloraseptic at night and in the morning to reduce the pain and eating cough drops during the day just to keep something in my mouth so it doesn't hurt.  It is really becoming annoying because it isn't getting better.  If anything it is slowly getting worse.

First question is could this just all be from stress?
Second question is could this really be Thrush and my Dentist just missed it?
Third question is what else could this be?  (Maybe I need my tonsils removed)

I really have no idea and I am lost at what to do next.  Any thoughts or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you for your time and help.

[scottma]

It appears that lesions come and go spontaneously. I can only think of allergic reaction that behaves this manner. Seeing an oral pathologist or ent is advised.

[JrDriver85]

Can someone else please give me another opinion.  Would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks!