From the description I assume that the OP did use more than the 12k to bring back the edge, and probably ruined the edge this way. He would have said that he tried to touch up the blade 2-3 times on the 12k, and not 2-3 sharpenings.
I think that the problem the OP has is that he doesn't know how to hone or touch up a blade, and should send it out for a professional to rehone it, and should get a cheap razor for learning purposes. When the professionally honed razor starts to pull, he will have the right technique to do 5-10 nice laps on the nani to bring the edge back. After that it only takes time adn practice when he can get a good edge on a razor himself.