iMessages not working since iOS 18.4 update with iPhone 15 pro

Hello,

I have an IPhone 15 pro & after | updated my phone to iOS 18.4 iMessage has only worked intermittently.

Sometimes texts are sent or received as SMS or

RCS (to iPhone users). Often times, I'm simply not getting texts. I know this after concerned relatives / coworkers called to inquire if I was getting their texts since there was no response.

It's completely random as sometimes it works and sometimes it won't.

I've performed the following actions with no success:

-tried only on cellular, only on Wifi and tried switching things up with airplane mode -Toggle iMessage on and off -Reset network settings and reboot phone -Disable WiFi -Delete Network Settings and reboot phone -Completely erased and reset iPhone to factory Settings -Reached out to cellular provider to "reset" carrier, remove old eSIM and reinstall new one -Went to Apple Store where they run diagnostics and found nothing wrong with my phone. Tech support mentioned that Verizon cellular network might not be compatible with latest iOS. -called Verizon again and they said it’s not their network.

At this point I feel like I’m being tossed around. In the mean time I'm stuck missing important messages for weeks now. I don't want to get a new phone since I just got this one less than a year ago.

Any suggestions?