I have a St Jude. My surgeon would have given me a OnX if I wanted, but he said he likes St Jude because of its proven reliability. My cardiologist agreed, said it is a robust valve with a good record. So far, 14 years later, I’ve had no problems.
Many of us did not have symptoms before valve replacement. Valve deterioration often is slow at first and then becomes very rapid ending in death. I didn’t have any symptoms for years until my surgery was already scheduled based upon echocardiogram results. After surgery my surgeon said my valve was in bad shape, a month at best until total valve failure….Have the surgery, it will save your life.