I have this feeling of a hair or blockage in the back of my throat, causing me to want to swallow with no relief. Drinking and eating, cough syrup, halls do not help. I also have a nasty cough and runny nose. Looking into my throat, I can see these angry red veins, my tonsils look inflamed and I think I can see white spots. But aside from the discomfort of the hair feeling, it doesn t hurt to swallow or breath.