Problems with iMessage

I am having problems with iMessage. I upgraded my iPod touch 5th generation to IOS 9.3.1 from IOS 7 something. Account was set to keep Messages forever. All of the messages are gone after the upgrade. Fine, we'll live with the consequences, but would really like them back.

• Now when I send a new message it continues to be stuck on Sending.... but it actually is sending. Messages come in. And when you continue to message back and forth the messages sending grows 1 of 4, 1 of 8, 1 of 12, etc.
• When I swipe up the message app to close it and reopen it, all the messages that I've received look like there are there, but when you open any of the message all of the context of the message is gone. You can only see who sent the message.

Any help you could provide is most appreciated! I've tried all the followings: logged out of icloud, imessage and facetime, reset all settings, reset network, restored to last back up. Thanks!