Hi.
So I had this COVID-19 test on Monday evening.
Why?
Well, because after spending about two months or so becoming depressed, inside on "lockdown" and working from home to stay safe from this virus, I finally snapped out of it... and realized that if I pay attention to the science, wear a mask, wash my hands, practice social distancing... and limit any adventures to being at places which were safe, open, which were following the untainted, non-politicized steps toward re-opening safely given the new world we're in... that I can live my life, have adventures and do things which are normal... with an asterisk.
That asterisk? Safety.
So, like so many millions of Americans, I hit the road. I went to "safe" places in "green" zones with flat curves and which met the metrics from Fauci and others who stand against the political manipulation of healthcare data. I went out on boats, and hung by pools. I cooked out and rocked out fire pits. I even went to the "greatest city in the world...."
Let's hear it for New York!
Well, over the last several weeks - I've noticed some gastric things going on. Some can be attributed to me changing my diet to a more all-liquid and protein shake based diet... changes made to get me back on a path to wellness and weight loss, because the pandemic pounds have been a thing.
However, on Monday, in the early morning hours, while working on the early morning part of my iHeartRadio Broadcast Day, I got smacked with two distinct waves of stuff which didn't feel good. I got a really serious gastric sleeve-aka-tummy-ache... and then, got nauseous.
It was overwhelming.
Now, I take my temperature for a COVID-related study I'm a part of at least five times every day while logging my comings-and-goings. My temperature that morning did get a bit higher... but it was only 99.1 or so. Not really anything to write home about. Through the rest of the day, I had no fever... and so after sleeping a bit to give my body a chance to recharge, I woke up, finished work that you hear on iHeartRadio stations across the country in the afternoons and evenings... and I went to a local urgent care for a walk-in COVID test.
Please note that they were and are paid partners. I tell you this because they gave me peace of mind and they can for you, as well, but they haven't had any influence on this content.
Anyway.
I'm pretty sure the test will come back negative. I'm pretty certain that I've been safe enough, smart enough, I've not travelled to risky areas where the numbers are through the roof. You know, the places we see on the news.
I went to take this test because I know that eventually, I'm going to have to return to work in our studios. We're making plans for this now. I went to take this test because, truth, I had an uneasy feeling in what's left of my tummy... and I wanted to rule out any sort of sign that I've been exposed to this virus and if I were to have contracted it, I can move swiftly to follow the science and treatment plans to make sure I'm good to go when we do eventually return to normal... and so that my blood plasma and whatnot, can be used for science.
I think I want you to know that it's important to take care of you. We're fortunate that we live in a place where we can get tests and we have research which can help us to stay well. I won't get into the debate on how we've responded to this whole thing. I think we are all collectively over this.
But we can do what we can do to be as safe as we can be -- and as healthy -- as we can be -- until we get through this. And that's why I went to have a swab stuck up my nose... and it's probably why I will do so again... and again... especially as I plan to travel to places where we can go... as I get back to working in the studio environment... and as we move forward toward living out life without fear... of this shared global experience which has, I think, reminded us just how powerless we are as individuals, and yet, how powerful we are... when we come together... determined to live.
I'm waiting like a kid at Christmas for my results to come in. I'll let you know what they are when I get 'em.
I hope you are well. I think about you often. I can't wait until the time comes when I can say hey to you again, shoot a quick selfie for your Instagram... and when we can share laughs about that time when we all had to ditch what we thought was normal... to go hide out at home... and work in our pajamas via webcams.
-tk
tk@iheartradio.com
Photos: Getty