Microsoft Account Not Found then when I try to set it up, it reads already exists

I opened a Microsoft account without realizing I already had one.  I attempted to merge them.  First I tried to add an alias to one of the accounts but it read that the email was already in use.  I closed the email that was already in use, then attempted to add it as an alias.  Message still reads it is already in use.  When I attempt to sign in with the secondary email it reads that the account doesn't exist.  Any suggestions?