Hi Suzi,
I'm sorry that your mom is so uncomfortable and for the fear I assume you are feeling. My mom has gone through much of the same post treatment issues. As you can see my mom had rad and chemo-Erbitux, and then brachy therapy. Her treatments were completed in Sept. She also went through the episodes of the mucous, she was given a prescripton for tussionex-that did wonders! Within two days she was able to cope with the mucous-it wasn't so thick and everywhere. My mom is still having issues with her tongue burning-even water being painful! She has no thrush, her dental onc looked last week. She can handle drinking Gold Peak Tea, lemon flavored. She can't have it on ice it hurts too much, refrigerated is best. She too had the swollen tongue, I believe it as from all the radiation. It's quite a sight to look at like that. She was very frightened because at one point she felt like she couldn't breath. Your mom is lucky they put her on the steroids, I have read here on the boards of several people who said it helped. Now, as for the film,membrane...my mom has ongoing issues with that. It was filmy and then it kind of hardened, then began to chip off-she referred to the jagged pieces in her mouth as 'little men' who stabbed her tongue. There were times that a large portion of the tongue that would kind of slough off-like a snake. (I hope I used the correct term there.) Once that film came off she is left with blisters and a very, very pink and raw looking tongue. My mom's docs have seen her frequently, her rad onc really doesn't seem to be upset by the tongue-at least two weeks ago he wasn't. Is your mom in pain? My mom is still in a lot of pain, at times. She is better this week from last, and even in the last few days she seems more like herself. I fall sometimes, but friends here on the forum help me get back up and keep going.
I'm so sorry your mom is going through this, I understand. If she would like to and is able to, I'm sure that my mom would be happy to talk to her and try to help. You can e-mail me anytime. I hope this makes sense, I haven't been able to sleep lately and my thoughts just ramble out.
Take care Suzi.

Donna