Hmm, well generally if you have been laying there for 45 minutes with no SP, I'd recommend stopping and trying again the next night. You are probably too awake. So try again a little earlier in the night and see if that helps. The early stages of SP are basically feeling heavy and getting some hallucinations. When you're in full SP, if you try to move, you can't. You'll usually hear loud ringing or roaring noises in your ears and feel strong vibrations. What helps me to bring SP faster is imagining myself rocking back and forth as I'm breathing. It's also really useful in that it's easy to roll out of the SP and be in the dream.

As to the swallowing problem--prop your head up on a very fluffy pillow or two pillows and your saliva will drain naturally, negating the need to swallow. Be sure the pillow(s) are still comfortable enough for you to fall asleep on.