048 - CPAP Update

[captain_slinky]

I have yet to make it a full night wearing my CPAP stuff, and I know the reasons why but I don't know how to fix it. Posting about it so all you experienced CPAPers (Sea-pappies?) can advise me:

• ALLERGIES - Having always had severe allergies that no doctor has been able to sufficiently treat, I have no idea how to deal with this. I've had shots, I take Zyrtec, but STILL I spend all night long with a slightly runny, over-sensitive nose and throat which are both agitated by the constant blowing of the CPAP. I have a super-fancy unit with a humidifier and a heated hose, but I'm not sure of those options will really help me with this and I'm usually too tired by the time I put the thing on my head to bother fiddling with the settings.
  
• SINUS HEADACHE - The CPAP Tech warned me a bit about this, said that the machine would basically be inflating/flexing my sinuses all night long and that I may have headaches at first but in the long run it will make my sinus issues go away. I wake up about half of the mornings (maybe more) staggering around with a terrible sinus headache that I have no idea how to treat - Sinutab? Allerest? Is that okay???
  
• COUGHING - Because of the allergies, I clear my throat every night several times. Witht eh CPAP blowing, though, the simple "Ht-Hrrrm" turns into a full-blown coughing fit that wakes me up. Any suggestions? Third coughing fit usually results in me taking the machine off and never putting it back on again.