Hi Amanda,
Don't feel embarrassed as the objects you mentioned are indeed the tonsils. When our tonsils are infected or invaded by cancerous cells, they are often enlarged. The ENT may not be sure if there is the tumor in the tonsil or it is just tonsillite until he takes out some tissue for biopsy. In my case, I could see the swollen tonsils easily when I opened my mouth,as you describe, brain-like things.I had my left 'brain' much larger than the right one because my tumor was on the left. Of course for a healthy person, he won't notice where their tonsils are.

Karen