<s>[INST] I've had a respirator infection for about a week and have been coughing a lot.  All of a sudden today I noticed a spot on my lower right abdomen (to the right of the pubic bone) that is very tender to the touch and hurts when I cough....is it a strain or could I have given myself a hernia? What do I do? [/INST] Hi and thank you so much for this query.I am so sorry to hear about abdominal pains. coughing often requires the support of most of the abdominal muscles and this could be as a result of the strain. Hernias would generally not pain unless they get complicated and the pain would be constant and not related to cough. I think it is more related too strain. Take pain medications and should the pains persist or worsen, I will suggest you visit a doctor for further evaluation. Have you been evaluated for this cough?I hope this helps. I wish you well. Feel free to ask for more information and clarification if need be and I will gladly respond to. </s>