Hi there - it does sound to me like a wicked infection! smile I wish I could say more but the mouth is the dirtiest place in the human body - bacteria galore!!! It's very possible what you said happened happened - My dr told me you might notice a lisp when you're tired ! I had a 3rd of my tongue replaced. 9 mos ago I still have a tiny lisp because I'm still swollen a bit from rads (finished 7 months ago) I haven't gotten back to acting yet - (giving myself a year) but for the most part in am healed - not looking forward to the post rads fall out.
Re the thrush - try manuka - I started with a mild case of it - just post rads - manuka stopped it in its tracks!

Will check out the YouTube thing. Congrats on 4 years and congrats on your career!

Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan