I still don't understand why the OP isn't dealing with this through his travel agent. You buy the ticket from the agent, you do everything else through the agent.
If your agent is going to charge you change fees, that's part of the deal.
To complicate things, my travel agent did not issue the ticket themselves. They had to release the PNR to their branch to issue the ticket, and any reissuing and revalidating must be done by sending the PNR back to the branch. (It takes them a day to issue a ticket!!! and I am a rather inpatient person and want things done right away)
Also, they are not open 24 hours. (Can't use corporate TA as this is a leisure trip)
Anyway, I asked my travel agent to reissue my ticket today and it is taking them forever as the person that knows how to do complex ticketing was not in today.