[tarren]

I have posted before regarding my indecision about having surgery. I did not have any symptoms but did show severe stenosis on my last echocardiogram.
I finally had the surgery. It was not pleasant, I was in ICU for four days due to blood gas problems, but I am home now feeling okay. My surgeon told me he was surprised that I could get any blood through the valve it was so severely stenotic. My gradient prior to surgery was 57, and is now 14. Big reduction in the work the heart has to do to get blood through the valve.
I would advise anyone with severe stenosis to get the operation over with as your heart can adjust to allow for the higher gradient pressures, but in the end you are weakening your heart.