Not sure how common or unique my experience is so I shall share. My issue was with the mitral valve and over a relatively brief period of time I actually had both. I had a regurgitant valve that worsened to the point where action was recommended. I was asymptomatic; however, regular tests did make it clear that the leakage increased and there was some wall thickening. Heart was working harder. The body is quite adaptable but eventually a point can be reached where damage is irrecoverable. So, what I like to call an o-ring was sewed inside to stiffen things up and eliminate the leakage.
It solved the leakage but I am a runner and I literally could not run. Technically asymptomatic again . . . except during exercise. What had happened was in fixing the valve, the resultant opening was too small, i.e. stenotic. When I attempted to exercise I could feel chest pressure. The repair was causing pulmonary hypertension. On occasion I'd be coughing up blood.
My first surgeon actually asked me if I wanted him to take it out. I found another who quickly realized exactly what the problem was. He adapted a stress test to measure the mitral gradient as much as possible while exercising and it was way too high. (Essentially it was the standard stress test/ultrasound and as soon as they detected a heart anomaly they yelled at me to lie down for the measurement.) He put in a mechanical mitral valve 6 months after the repair surgery.
So for me personally, the stenosis was worse; however, I'm not sure there is much benefit in comparing them in a general sense.
