Sorry, you're getting frustrated, but without reliable test results, the good folks here really can't help much. They'd just be shooting in the dark. You might as well let the pool store sell you random chemicals to dump into your pool.
The TFP method works, but you must follow it precisely. And to do that, you must have precise readings. If you can't do that right now, then perhaps you should close it up and save whatever money you're spending on it now towards a good test kit. It'll save you money in the long run.