Allergy meds are like other meds- not all meds work for all people. Allegra D works great for Ky, but not so much for me. I also tried Claritin, etc. For me it's Zyrtec (without the "D"). It's a once a day med, but I take it twice a day (with the OK of my allergist).

I have the skin thing too- my doctor prescribed a skin cream (Vani-Cream with triamcinolone mixed in) that I use after the shower. Between that and the Zyrtec the skin stuff is really quite manageable. I did buy a new vacuum (if you go to one of the online discount websites you can buy a reconditioned one for hundreds less), but haven't gotten the mattress covers yet. Eventually I will. The dog sleeps in my bedroom and I suppose that won't stop. I brush her and she gets fish oil, I wash her (but not every week). Dogs are not one of my allergies.

The one thing I do do scrupulously is wash the sheets at least weekly (I use white sheets so I can bleach), and while the sheets are off the mattress gets vacuumed.

And for some reason, ever since I started making sure to drink at least 4 liters of water a day (so dry in the winter) all of the symptoms are improving.

Good luck!