Appearing offline - when actually online?

I am struggling with Windows Live / MSN messenger.

Apparently, to my contacts I appear offline when I am, in fact, online. I
know how to utilize the 'invisible' feature and am positive I am not hidden.
I also know that I use Adium on my Mac at home, but have it set that when I
am on my work PC, it will auto-disconnect Adium if I'm still logged onto it.

I appear online to myself on my own buddy list, but not to anyone else.

ALSO, if I click myself (from my buddy list haha) and try to IM myself, it
will ONLY send me an e-mail. I cannot possibly IM myself.

I used to be visible to friends and yet recently, have become incapable of
being seen. And what's frustrating is that if I try to open Windows Live
help, the connection is denied - loading as a blank page.

SO if anyone could please help, I'd greatly appreciate it! We use MSN for
work, so I'm struggling insanely atm.