Nurse Warren, 

In my experience, it is very common for the oral herpes virus to move around  - lip, chin, nostril.  I also get cold sores periodically and they move from my lip one time to my nose the next - it's all in the same nerve group so not surprising at all. I doesn't suggest a new second infection to me, not at all.

Terri
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Ok, that clarifies the possible nostril one for me. Can you give me some information on what typically causes a recurrence? What sort of circumstances lead to a cold sore outbreak?

There are probably many things that cause an outbreak, and many are not well understood.  Basically, anything that challenges the immune system is implicated as well as for oral herpes, sunlight.  Thus the name "cold sores" - people sometimes get them when they get a cold or are sick in other ways.  I can predict very clearly that I will get them with lack of sleep.  Some people get them with any significant change in their schedules.  Certainly, taking steroids can trigger one as well as things like chemotherapy which also suppresses the immune response.  And sunlight is an absolutely known trigger.

Terri
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I've read that stress is also a trigger. I've had some strange facial sensations, could you tell me if any of these sound like prodrome symptoms? I've had tightness and pain in my jaw and back teeth (the molars on the top and bottom of mouth), tingling in both lips, tingling in my chin and cheeks and some pain in my temples on both sides. It's been about 3 or 4 days of these sensations but no sign of sores anywhere on my face. I've read online that neck and facial tension can manifest similar sensations but I'd like your input as far as prodrome symptoms go. 

I think the research has shown that stress (which also challenges the immune system) lasting more than two weeks can be a trigger, yes. 
Your sensations are hard to nail down, but in my experience, when prodrome happens, it is only for a few days and then usually only on one side of the body

Terri
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