You probably started a new return, rather than returning to the one you had already started.  You may need to use the browse function to find the first copy.  This may be tricky as TT put's the file somewhere it likes, rather than where you might want it;  I always use "save as" the first time to put the tax return in the folder I prefer.  Once you've done that it will find if and save it to that folder henceforth.

I cannot get turbo tax to load in correctly. It tries to make new return without giving last years  (2017). I have tried to reload this program several times. It has a couple of t imes to try to do it correct but has not yet followed thru.

Contact TurboTax support and speak directly with a TurboTax support agent concerning this situation.

See this TurboTax support FAQ for a contact link and hours of operation -https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1899263-what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number

When you start a New Tax Return using the 2018 TurboTax software, the first screen shows the 2017 tax data files found in the Documents directory and in the TurboTax folder.  The 2017 tax data files have a file extension of .tax2017.  You select the 2017 file to transfer to the 2018 tax return.  If no 2017 tax data files are found then you click on the Browse button to find the 2017 tax return to transfer to the 2018 tax return.