Hi, Marie, and welcome to The Waiting Room - the virtual room where many folks await their own turns at valve surgery. I spent almost 10 years waiting, and once you get used to the fact that "I will definitely need valve surgery, we just don't know how soon" things begin to settle down.
Since you haven't shared any of the details of your echo report, we don't know how severe your valve is, so it is difficult to discuss what your immediate future may be. I would suggest, though, no matter what the condition of your valve may be, try to develop your own plan of "if I needed surgery today, what would I do, and where." Once you have made those choices, you can put that worry aside and try to get back to living your life until you need to pull out that plan and work it. Also, if you are one of us who has a lengthy stay in The Waiting Room, you may want to periodically review and modify your plan.
In my 10 year of waiting, my plan went from a mechanical valve (while I was in my early 50's) to a tissue valve (once I got into my 60's). I kept the same cardio all that time, and had regular strategy discussions with him along with the discussions of how WE were going to manage my care until it was time for surgery.
It sounds as if your cardio may think that you may be ready for surgery within the next couple of years, as they usually do annual reviews when you are still far away from surgery, then move to 6-month intervals when things are getting closer.
Marie, we're glad you've found us. You are in the right place now, so make yourself at home. Ask all the questions you wish, as people here are great at sharing their personal experiences and knowledge, and they are a great family away from home.
