a529612,Milking does promote more circulation into your cock, be it blood or lymph fluid. Pumping at higher pressures tends to draw the lymph fluid into your skin at a faster rate. Now when you milk at 8.5 the pressure is fluctuating into the 10.0 region, a pressure that promotes even more lymph build up.
I know you won’t like this, but first I would recommend limiting you pressure to 6.0 for a week and see if you don’t get just as big and actually have better results. Then, if you insist on going to 8.5, just don’t milk in this range. Milk at lower pressures of say 5-6, so the pressure then just fluctuates into the 8.5 range during milking.
You don’t mention the length of your pump cycles. Time is also a factor in lymph build up especially at higher pressures, so keep it limited to 15 minute cycles and jelq in between sets. Doing say three 15 minutes sets is more effective then doing one 45 minute set.
I used to always pump at the higher pressures, and while I pumped up large, I always had discoloration, bloating and difficulty cementing my gains. Now I am pumping at reduced pressure, max now 6 and average is 5 and am getting better results with zero bloat almost zero discoloration. Results are cementing faster and my cock looks healthy. Just remember to kegel in tube as part of your pump routine and you will get just as large at reduced pressure levels.
When I milk the tube, I lower the pressure to 4. It fluctuates between 4 and 6 during milking. I do this for about 30 secs and then move back to 8.5 or so pressure for the next 30 secs. I just keep doing this high / low cycle for about 10 mins or so and 2 x 10 mins pumping each day before going to bed.