Did you try to recover your google account with text message option?
It is possible only if you verified/added your mobile number to your google account, this looks simple way but it only work when you have the mobile number added.
I mentioned that in op already.
Or else waiting for the help it the only way as you said it may take upto 5 days but still you can recover it.
Yes, but it had less chances, I come across many posts in Google forum where they lost their account permanently because Google couldn't verify them with whatever measures they use.