ASK THE DOCTOR

Doctor Dawn Harper answers all your questions

-  Dawn Harper

WILL I STILL BE CONTAGIOUS?

Our daughter has been through a bad divorce this year, which has left me run down. I seem to have caught one cold after another. We're all due to gather for Christmas, but I’ve got shingles on my face. My granddaughter is only six months old. Am I safe to go? I wouldn’t want to give her chickenpox.

If your granddaughter hasn't had chickenpox, she could get it from a person who has shingles. However, you're infectious from when the first blister grows until the last one has scabbed over. This will usually be about seven to 10 days, so you should be fine to go.

Help! My partner is allergic to the dog

My son and his wife are coming for Christmas. They want to bring their labradoodle. The dog is like their surrogate child. I really don't want to say 'no', but I have a new partner who is allergic to dogs. He says he'll just dose up on antihistamines, but is it safe to take them every day?

It's safe to take antihistamines on a daily basis in the short term, but the combo of antihistamines and alcohol may make him feel extra drowsy. Alcohol can also affect how well they work. A poodle's fur is less allergenic than other dog fur can be, so some people find that they are fine being around breeds like labradoodles. You could also suggest to your son that you limit the rooms that the dog is allowed into.

CAN I DELAY MY PERIOD OVER CHRISTMAS?

All year, I have been struggling with my periods and I'm now - finally - on a waiting list to have an endometrial ablation. I have just worked out that I will be starting my next period on Christmas Eve. They just leave me so washed out. I read that you can take hormones to delay a period - is this true?