One of the problems with avatars I've noticed is that they become little question marks and aren't the picture. Is this because they don't have the right file ending like *.jpg or something like that?
going to your profile after adding a custom avatar resets your avatar back to normal. If you are going to get a new avatar. do everything you want in your profile first so you don't have to do it after it...
Good luck next try... Also make sure your avatar is a gif file...