diagnosis often comes right along with being symptomatic. I met a fellow in the waiting room one day who had been a bricklayer all his life and was about 60 (looking at him) and he said he just felt faint one day.
His effective aortic orifice area was so small the surgeon had wondered how he'd been able to do his job these last few years.
Get it seen to and really just keep your mind on what you have to do (which is recover and put effort into recovery).
I see from your bio:
looking to understand next options
and so you should know that activitiy and younger age are contributors to what is called Structural Valve Degradation (SVD). The Mitral valve calcifies more significantly than others (as I understand it).
The advice used to be that you select a valve which has a durability of greater than the expected life of the patient. If you don't do that then you are selecting also for your redo surgery. I see from some other posts you're 60 ... so I would think that most valves on the market today would likely see you about 18 years, although a mechanical would likely see you another 30 years (or more) were you to last that long.
I recommend you acquaint yourself with the options and the reality of all aspects for your choice of valve.
The guidelines go like this:
and
so think carefully about this aspect:
and make your choice from there.
Lastlty keep this in mind
Then leave the rest for the people who know best.
Best Wishes