Could you possibly travel to the Cleveland Clinic for a consultation? They are very helpful when calling their 800 number and will put you in touch with a person who guides you through the process of having your medical records sent and setting up an appointment. An opinion from that institution would be very meaningful in that they routinely take on difficult cases and are even frequently willing to operate on the very ill and elderly.
I wonder if the socialized medicine in Canada plays a role in decision-making regarding approving surgeries. I know that your wait times can be long and painful.
Although I have no way of knowing for sure, it seems odd to me that they will not replace your valve, especially in a person of your age and activity level. I wouldn’t take no for an answer. But if the Cleveland Clinic concurs that your valve replacement is a no-go, then you can rest assured that your three opinions from your home base are valid.
Also, ask about the cost and any financial assistance available. Cleveland is known to charge less than other hospitals.
I had a mitral valve repair at Cleveland 19 years ago- minimally invasive with only a few inches of my sternum cut.
They told me that I l would have had replacement had my valve been in worse shape. I had leakage from leaflets that didn’t close tightly enough. There was no question regarding not being a candidate. I was there because waiting would have led to heart failure eventually which was unthinkable.
Good luck to you. Having to be your own advocate is challenging but worth it!