Well, I want to thank you for your response because I just went to get an imaging done on my calf and it revealed a blood clot. I will go see a vascular surgeon tomorrow to get treated. Thank you very much for your advice because I never would have thought it could be something other than a reaggravated muscle pull.

sincereag said:

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Well, I want to thank you for your response because I just went to get an imaging done on my calf and it revealed a blood clot. I will go see a vascular surgeon tomorrow to get treated. Thank you very much for your advice because I never would have thought it could be something other than a reaggravated muscle pull.

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Wow... that's pretty awesome that you were able to discover this by posting on TexAgs. Glad you caught it!

Yes it is amazing, I was searching the internet trying to find out a possible connection of my muscle injury to Covid-19 and found nothing. Then within two hours of posting on Texags I find out that it could likely be a blood clot. This forum has a lot of knowledgable posters.

I think this counts as another successful Texags hook up.

Man, I am so sorry to hear that. No idea what prompted me to respond to your post - I don't post a lot. I suffered a freak blood clot during college as a result of orthopedic surgery so I have a heightened awareness. Be careful while you are on blood thinners and stay on top of any required bloodwork. You will be back to new in no time. If you need a brain to pick on any of it, shoot me a DM.

As promised, here is the update in regards to donating convalescent plasma.

Overall the process is very simple, and follows the post I had earlier. But this time I will include pictures.

The donation process mirrors a normal allogeneic donation. I still had to answer the 50+ pre-screen health questions. Thankfully, you can answer them in advance now at many blood centers on the day of your donation. It saves about 15 minutes in the process to do them from your phone before you arrive.

Health markers are still taken for Hemoglobin, BP, Pulse, Height, Weight. All of these determine the volume you can donate via apheresis.

Picture on the bed, waiting for the machine to be loaded up.


The empty collection bags on the Alyx Machine.

From Right to Left ( Whole blood collections, Red Cell separated bag, Plasma bag)

I am glad our staff isn't nervous when I donate. Our tech hit the vein, and I didn't even feel a pinch.


The process takes 3 cycles of Draw and Return. Overall it took about 40 minutes to donate 825 mls.
First Draw/Return Cycle

Second Draw/Return Cycle

Final Draw/Return Cycle


Chilling and holding 4 doses of Convalescent Plasma



Some good news since this thready started. We are finally not back ordered on Convalescent Plasma. Today is the first day in nearly 45 days that we haven't been 100+ doses back ordered. A couple of things are contributing to this positive momentum.

1) local collections are increasing dramatically. Word has gotten out and we are seeing 30+ donors/day
2) New York Blood Center is rocking in their collections and has committed to help us with weekly shipments until we are fully self sufficient.

Thanks for all the well wishes, but we were definitely blessed in how it has effected my family. And please continue to donate blood and pray. Give locally, as you never know who it is going to help.

sincereag said:

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Well, I want to thank you for your response because I just went to get an imaging done on my calf and it revealed a blood clot. I will go see a vascular surgeon tomorrow to get treated. Thank you very much for your advice because I never would have thought it could be something other than a reaggravated muscle pull.

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That's awesome. Good job by you cbminers. Insane that one little texags observational post very well may have saved this dudes life. Really cool.

cbminers said:

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Not a doctor but keep an eye on that calf for swelling, redness, heat, etc. With all of the vascular issues associated with CV19 I would be concerned about a DVT in the calf being mistaken for a re-aggravated injury.

Thanks for sharing your experiences and hope you continue to feel better!

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Well, I have to thank you too, because you may have saved another life with this post. I remembered reading this post from over a year ago when I started having unexplained leg/calf pain this week and it made me think I shouldn't take it lightly. It was getting so bad that I was limping. Went to the ER this morning and was diagnosed with a DVT. Thanks again.