arm lift with continuous fluid build up??

Has anyone had an arm lift and their arms right above their elbow filled with fluid. I had 3 tubes drained from my left arm on Monday and 2 tubes from my right and today (one day later) they are huge again. I am going back again tomorrow to PS.  Has anyone else had this happen?  When does it stop filling up with fluid?  I want to get better but feel my arms are preventing me from that since they are soooo painful from the fluid build up.

Alice

I had my arm lift on Nov 18th (so almost 5 weeks ago).

I noticed on my right arm that the elbow area was more swollen than the left arm.
I didn't worry about it -- and just iced it periodically. 

I have those wraps that you put a rectangular flexible ice pack into --- and I wrapped it around my arm for about 20  minutes at a time -- 2 or 3 times a day.

I did that for the first 3 weeks and now both arms are the same -- much less swelling, much less tenderness.

Good luck

Well, I went back to PS today and they had to put tubes/drains in both my arms.  They will stay there for about a week or so until they no longer drain anything.  He also put me on antibiotics as a preventative measure.  Good news it that I got all my other drains out from my pubic area so no more tubing and annoying drains down there.  My arms are also wrapped with ace bandages.  My arms have given me more pain then my body lift or breast lift.  My arms feel like a burning stinging feeling.  I hope this start to get better with them.

Alice

I hope those drains take care of that fluid for you. My axilla drains barely drained anything and they were removed 4 days post-op, however I did have a little more swelling near my elbow but I think that may be because I probably spend most of my time with my arms down - and well gravity has it's way with fluids. I have had some burning stinking feeling in my arms too - I try to ignore it and presume that these feelings will change over time as the nerves grow back which can take as long as two years.

yes, I had about 2 oz removed from each arm yesterday and he is going to drain more today or tomorrow.  He gave me more elastic compression sleeves and told me to wear them 24/7 or he may have to put in drains.  Does having drains put in hurt? 

He told me that the fluid doesn't readsorb and kind of makes an "egg white" type film around it and fills the layers in between the tissues so they won't stick.  so they have to drain it manually if it is significant.

They knicked my tt drain yesterday and it has stopped pulling a vaccuum.  Lovely effect on the undies with drainage getting on it :(  I am going in this afternoon and maybe they will pull it out.  He put me back on antibiotics because he said I had a little cellulitus around the drain opening.  All I know is that I am 3 weeks out and still have a drain and want it OUT!

The office told me yesterday to complain more - my pain tolerance and nature as a mom and an engineer (female in a male dominated field) has trained me to "suck it up" too much and I need to stop doing that.  Okey dokey!

hope you are feeling better today!
Amelia