SUCCESS!!! first of all thank you for all the suggested solutions. What worked for me? Someone suggested that we should find the apps that use the camera and disable them and VIOLA!!!! that worked for me.
go to settings
then apps
click on each app and scroll to the bottom of each app (each one has to be done individually)
under permissions if the camera is listed you scroll back up and disable the app.
i did not disable messenger though
I VE GOT MY CAMERA BACK!
THANK AGAIN!!!!! HOORAY!