My view would be for anyone wanting to be a professional pilot to get themselves a CAA
Class 1 medical ASAP.
Once you have that in the bag, you have the Demonstrated Ability concession for the rest of your life.
And your health is only going to go
downhill
In fact I would recommend a private pilot to do the same, because a Class 1 locks in certain handy privileges (connected with the IR), and renewing a Class 1 should not cost much more than renewing a Class 2.
Really sad about losing money via a bent school, but this happens all the time. I've been flying only 11 years, but have seen several schools go bust at my airfield, in all cases with a total loss of student deposits and in at least one case (that I know of) following a major "inside job" done by the "CFI".