So my first post on this site asking for advice is a relatively small issue in my life, but depending on how you look at it, it's also a pretty important one.

I start college in less than five days, and I move in with my girlfriend into our new apartment in early September. I'm very excited to make this move; we love each other and enjoy each other's company. I can find only one major issue that I'm sure is going to arise: the dog.

My girlfriend has bipolar disorder. She's being treated and is probably the most calm and stable person I know. Her dog is an emotional support animal as well as a beloved pet. I, on the other hand, am not only decidedly NOT an animal person, but am also incredibly allergic to cats and dogs. I find that whenever I get around my girlfriend's dog, I experience very aggressive sneezing and itchy eyes, and sometimes I've had trouble breathing.

My girlfriend sleeps with the dog on the bed. Under the covers. This is my bone of contention, and I'm wondering if I'm being unreasonable. I researched this subject and read from a few sources that it's very unhealthy for a person who is allergic to animal dander to sleep with the animal on the bed, let alone under the covers. I'm genuinely anxious because I've woken up almost every night when sleeping with my girlfriend and her dog with itchy and streaming eyes and a runny nose, and sometimes I can't breathe very well. I've been hesitant to tell her about this because I know how touchy the subject is with her.

She is the most easy-going, agreeable person I've ever met on every other issue, but she absolutely will not budge on this one. The dog must, according to her, sleep on the bed with her, and when I brought up the subject yesterday, she was vehement that this was not open for discussion.

I'm having a hard time with this. She claims that she can't sleep without the dog on the bed if the dog is in the house, but she has often slept away from home without issues. I'm not sure if she genuinely can't sleep without her dog on the bed or if this is something which helped her when she got the dog and was not being treated, but is no longer necessary.

Although I don't want to hurt my girlfriend by stipulating that the dog stay out of our bed, I have my physical health to consider, and I would think she could be more open-minded about this. After all, she sleeps without her dog all the time when she's at my house or her step-mother's house, or anywhere else where she often stays when away from home. She lived in the mountains in a fifth-wheel for weeks with absolutely no complaints earlier this summer. So I can't understand why she's so adamant while knowing that I have such an extreme reaction.

One more thing: she also suggested that I get a shot to help desensitize me to her dog's dander, since medicine doesn't seem to be helping much. Now I know this is called immunotherapy, and I don't know how I feel about that. It's actually several shots per treatment, steadily increasing in dosage, over a period of time, and I just don't feel like I want to do this if there's a less complicated option open. Also, I did read that I may over time become more immune to the dog as I'm around her more, but that I may just as easily become more allergic. There's no telling which it may be. This is scaring me.

Some advice would be greatly appreciated--how should I bring up the subject? Do you think I'm being unreasonable? Is there a compromise that could be made. Mind you, most medical sources I've read on the subject advise to keep the dog completely in a separate room, but I'm not even asking that much, I'm just asking that she not be on the bed.

Thank you in advance.