Hi @justjudy I had a mitral valve repair in 2019. Prior, I saw the doctor for carpal tunnel syndrome and he heard a heart murmur. No one had before. An echocardiogram showed severe mitral valve prolapse with regurgitation, but I had no symptoms. I was monitored for about a year, then a new cardiologist told me there were better surgical outcomes when people had surgery prior to going into congestive heart failure so I opted to have it. My mitral valve was repaired with an annuloplasty ring, not replaced. I was in the hospital for two weeks with some complications, but I recovered well and I'm glad I didn't put it off. But my condition was severe!
My mother died of congestive heart failure from mitral valve stenosis. Her condition was managed medically for years with blood thinners. As it progressed, she was too frail to survive surgery.
Best thing I think is to stay on top of it and monitor your condition annually with echocardiograms.. Let your doctor know if you ever are short of breath. I also always watched my ankles for swelling.
I wish you the best.