text: i may have a hernia, how do i tell before i see a doctor?   i take it you are a male, if so, the area aruond your lower abdomen will ache badly, and your "fellas" will hurt too, and if one seems higher than the other,like it`s trying to get in your body,and the whole deal just hurts like hell, like you just got kicked there,and if you have exerted yourself recently,you should go get checked out,chances are its a hernia!