They're not stone hard but hard enough that they come out solid. And it's a weird sensation when you feel them. Mine are always in the back of my throat in little pockets in my tonsils (have them from so many years of strep) and I feel them when I swallow, they sort of scratch the back of my tongue.

Then I'll look to see if they're back there & if they are I'll use a q-tip to put pressure around the hole to get it out, if not, a good cough or gagging technique (lol, not as dirty as it sounds) will force the fucker out.