First, let me say that you are not alone in having unusual breathing sensations. There are many of us on here that have sensations that are both difficult to describe and understand. In addition, I can say that at least for myself, the breathing sensations do seem to shift from time to time. For me, there have been times that the breathing is almost unbearable and times I feel like I am coping a lot better. I think that the difficulty with figuring out how to best deal with these breathing issues is why so many of us here are looking for better treatments.  

For most people, they do tend to figure out ways to cope and/or improve the sensations so that it is easier to get through the day. Although you feel issues with your lungs, the problem is much more likely associated with the turbs. Consider that before the surgery, I suspect that you did not notice one way or the other about if your lungs filled up with air but instead you just breathed naturally.