Swallowing Air (aerophagia) caused by Sinus surgery???

[Booga]

This is weird and I may be way off base. After struggling with allergy symptoms for years I went to an ENT who told me I had badly deviated septum which was blocking normal breathing through my nose. So I had a septoplasty and the results were terrific. I can finally breath while I am sleeping.

The problem is I spent years swallowing mucus because normal nasal breathing wasn't doing the trick moving the mucus through my sinuses, etc.

But ever since my surgery I've been bloat-boy. Clothes don't fit, gut feels pressured and all the associated feelings of malaise, tired, etc.

I've recently decided there is a link between my change in breathing and 'mucus management' and my bloating. I'm so used to
swallowing mucus, now I'm just swallowing air. I guess it's a habit. I used to swallow at least once a minute to control what normal nasal breathing was not controlling.

Two questions: 1. Am I an idiot? Could my diagnosis be correct? 2. How can I control unconscious, habitual and now unnecessary
swallowing?

Thanks.