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Maria Gonzalez is allergic to grass, trees and herds, Benita and Bonita.
That's why she went to FamilyCare Allergy & Asthma in Santa Rosa on Wednesday morning for her monthly injection.
The 35-year-old did not flinch the needle entered her right shoulder. That fleeting sting is a small price to pay, she believes, to avoid the alternative: sneezing, itchy eyes and runny nose.
Things are about to get much busier here and at allergists' offices across the North Bay. A combination of very wet and dry weather, warm weather is producing a crop of grass pollen.
"I think it's going to be historically heavy, based on the growth I've seen," said Dr. Josh Jacobs of the Allergy & Asthma Group of the Bay Area. "Grass follows the rainfall of the same year. If we've had a lot of rainfall, we're going to have a lot of grass. "
For people who are "grass allergic," Jacobs said, "The next season is shaping up to be brutal full-on, probably the worst I've seen in 10 years."
"Thanks to Dr. Maria Petrick, who practices at FamilyCare Allergy & Asthma," but now it's just going to town. "
The waiting room Wednesday was crowded. "We have a lot of kids" as patients, said self-described "shot nurse" Tanya Fromm at FamilyCare Allergy. "Our busiest time is when they get out of school."
While Petrick expects grass pollen levels will abate by July 4, the long-term outlook for allergy sufferers is not promising. California, the growing season gets longer.
As a result, she said, "Poison oak's getting worse, poison ivy's getting worse, pollen's getting more virulent."
All this suffering is based on a misunderstanding within the human body, which detects pollen and perceives it as a threat.
"In reality, that's a mistake," said Dr. Ken Kurtz, a Santa Rosa allergist affiliated with the Kaiser Permanente Medical Group. "That's what an allergy is – when the immune system has a reaction against something it does not need to have a reaction against."
In developing countries, Petrick said, allergies are far less common.
In these places, people are fighting off parasites and things like that in the body.
Allergies are the price of eradicated microbes and diseases. That price is especially high in the Bay Area, Kurtz said.
"We have a wide variety of natural, naturalized, introduced, ornamental and agricultural species," he said. "We also have (sufficient) humidity dust and mold growth, and plenty of people around to keep pets, as well. We got it all. "
For those who prefer prone to grass allergy, doctors recommend taking over-the-counter-medication – Sudafed, Claritin or Zyrtec, for example – before they get slammed with symptoms.
"The pollen is already in the air," said Phillip Jordan, a salesman in Windsor, "so I've already started with my over-the-counter meds.
"I've found that I've got a handle on it early. Once the pollen takes hold in your system, it can take control of your day, "said Jordan.
Those seeking long-term relief often turn to allergy shots, also known as immunotherapy, the treatment provided by Petrick at FamilyCare Allergy & Asthma. After all, they are allergic to patients who are allergic to the skin. Their immune system, as a result, becomes less sensitive to it.
Leni Ortega took the test of skin, which is how she knows how to reduce the risk of infection. But she is not interested in immunotherapy and the three-to-five-year regimen of injections.
"I just rough it and take Claritin," said Ortega, an advocate for victims of sexual assault for Verity, a Santa Rosa nonprofit.
As she knows, allergies are not limited to humans. Following with their three dogs, Ortega has noticed, among other symptoms, that their paws have been red and swollen. Her remedy: post-hike oatmeal and green tea "paw soaks," rather than the Benadryl suggests by her vet.
Allergy sufferers seeking more holistic, alternative solutions have plenty of options, too.
"Chinese medicine is really great at addressing" allergies, "said Dr. Erin Martin, of the Sutter Institute for Health and Healing in Santa Rosa.
Certain foods make seasonal allergies worse, said Martin, citing alcohol, peanuts, sugar, processed foods, wheat and chocolate. She recommends eating local honey to reduce symptoms, and advises allergy-prone patients to "eat a rainbow" of colorful vegetables and fruits daily.
When all else fails, allergist Jacobs said, "We'll get a little relief."
You can reach Staff Writer at Austin Murphy at 707-521-5214 or [email protected].
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