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Mayra Beltran Houston Chronicle
Dr. Pat Reardon and former President George H.W. Bush talk about former first lady Barbara Bush's recovery Tuesday at The Methodist Hospital. Reardon described Barbara Bush's condition as excellent.
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EmailFormer first lady Barbara Bush was discharged from The Methodist Hospital on Tuesday, a little less than a week after undergoing surgery to repair a perforated ulcer that her husband characterized as causing "extraordinary agony."
Former President George H.W. Bush thanked Methodist staff and apologized that the "silver fox" opted to slip out quietly rather than appear at a hastily called news conference. He said his wife is doing well.
"Barb's feeling much, much better," Bush said. "I'll be glad to get her home."
Barbara Bush, 83, was admitted to Methodist a week ago Tuesday evening after experiencing pain she characterized as "worse than childbirth." After determining she had a perforated ulcer, a life-threatening condition if not caught early, doctors performed a three-hour surgery early the next morning to patch a half-inch hole in her small intestine.
Dr. Pat Reardon, the surgeon, on Tuesday described her condition as excellent. He noted that her vital signs are normal and said she is vigorous and getting around on her own.
Bush was fed intravenously until Monday, when she started a liquid diet. She will continue that diet at home for another week, her doctors said.
Doctors do not know definitively what caused Bush's perforated ulcer but believe it was the result of a chronic use of non-steroidal anti-inflamma-tory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Such painkillers hinder mechanisms that protect the gastrointestinal lining from digestive juices that can cause ulcers.
Test results for a bacterial infection that is the most frequent cause of ulcers are pending. Reardon said the team has seen no indication of the infection so far.
Bush has had two hip replacement surgeries and back surgery and has battled arthritis.
Reardon, who called it an honor to take care of someone in the Bush family, said she is now on antacids and will not resume taking the anti-inflammatory drugs anytime soon.
Perforated ulcers occur when the ulcer burns through the stomach or small intestine, allowing bile and acid to spill into the abdominal cavity, causing a level of pain that Barbara Bush said was the worst she had ever experienced.
The former president downplayed any damper the development had on the couple's Thanksgiving, saying they had a wonderful holiday at the hospital with son Neil and his family. He said the entire family will join President George W. Bush for Christmas at Camp David.
"We're all looking forward to it," said Bush, acknowledging it will be the last one there. "It should be very nostalgic, very emotional."
The former president was nursing a bit of an injury himself, walking uneasily after pulling a hip muscle Monday after working out too strenuously.
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