Susan, DEFINITELY call the doctor, but don't self-diagnose. It's worth getting checked out, so you're doing the right thing. Try to accept that you cannot do anything until you get ahold of the doctor's office, and that you will be fine until then. Stay focused in the moment...don't think ahead. Just get through each moment until you can call the doctor.

The symptom in question is a tingling, occasionally slightly numb sensation in the face, but without any loss of mobility.

Susan, drink a large glass of milk. That can sometimes happen if calcium levels drop a lot.

Susan, it's more likely that it's either caused by (1) something dental -- like a minor inflammation or something; (2) sinuses swelling could press a nerve; (3) it could be trigeminal neuralgia, which is annoying in its vagueness, but it's not anywhere near the categories of MS or brain cancer.

That can sometimes happen if calcium levels drop a lot.

I did not know that.

Susan, what everyone else said. It's good to go to the doctor, just in case, but I've scared myself into any number of scary conditions when looking up a symptom. Get to the doctor's as soon as you can to bring yourself some peace, but until you can, just focus on whatever (else) is at hand and relax.

Thanks, Teppy. t shakes fist at Yahoo Health for not mentioning any of those I doubt it's the tooth thing because it seems more concentrated around my forehead, cheekbones, and nose--could it be sinuses even if I'm not experiencing any congestion?

I'm in panic mode that it's either MS or brain cancer, because I can't seem to find anything less frightening that leads to facial tingling of this type.

Bell's Palsy does that, although it tends to be on only one side. I had one scary "oh my god I've had a stroke" round with it years ago and since then the right side of my face gets tingly and numb, particularly if I'm tired or stressed. You can also get so tense that your muscles clamp down on the nerves in your neck. Try some heat on your neck muscles.

I didn't know about the calcium thing, but Medline Plus informs me that in addition to being caused by screwy calcium levels, facial tingling/numbness can also be caused by screwy sodium and/or potassium levels.

So it could be as simple as your electrolytes being out of whack. Hasn't it been hotter than normal in Seattle recently? Maybe you got dehydrated without realizing it, and your sodium levels are crazy low.

it seems more concentrated around my forehead, cheekbones, and nose--could it be sinuses even if I'm not experiencing any congestion?

Oh, HELL yes. I often get hideous sinus pain without actual congestion, or just very very minimal congestion. Check with your doctor first, but if it's sinus, my method of attack is always 12-hour sudafed (or its generic/CVS equivalent) along with 3-4 ibuprofen every 4-6 hours.

Occam's razor suggests that it's probably sinuses. While we definitely have Buffistas who are proof that the more uncommon diagnoses do happen, it's true that in most cases, the simplest, most common diagnosis is the correct one. And in your case, sinuses sound right on the money. They're annoying little bastards.

This has been an impressive display of knowledge.

Which I cannot add to. But I hope it's nothing serious, Susan.