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Barbara Bush

VanC

Well-known member
(CNN) -- Former first lady Barbara Bush was doing well Wednesday following her surgery late Tuesday night to repair and seal a perforated ulcer, according to the surgeon who performed the operation.

Former first lady Barbara Bush is recovering in intensive care after her surgergy.

"She is up in a chair. She's very vigorous. She is in charge," said Dr. Patrick Reardon. "The first thing she did when her lips worked was to tell a joke."

Bush, 83, showed up at the emergency room of Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas, Tuesday night, complaining of severe abdominal pain, Reardon told reporters.

"She declared this was the worst pain she ever had, many times worse than childbirth," the doctor said. "This is not something that she had any doubts there was a problem with."

After examining her and doing some diagnostic tests, doctors determined Bush had a perforated ulcer in her duodenum, the first portion of the small intestine after the stomach, Reardon said.

In the operating room, doctors thoroughly cleaned her abdominal cavity of any contaminants that had leaked through the hole, described by the hospital as being 1 centimeter. Then, doctors repaired the ulcer and used a piece of the omentum, living fat tissue in the abdomen, to sew on top of it to seal it, Reardon said.

Bush remained in the hospital's intensive care unit Wednesday, standard procedure following such surgery.

She likely will be there at least 24 to 48 hours, he said. She likely will be hospitalized for at least a week, Reardon said, and won't be able to have any food by mouth, as it might stretch the newly repaired ulcer.

She also requires intravenous antibiotics to counteract any bacteria released into the abdomen through the hole.

"She's awake and completely alert," he said. "She's been visiting with the family and looks very good."

The condition was caught early, as Bush recognized there was something wrong, Reardon said. He suggested anti-inflammatory medication Bush takes may have caused the ulcer -- a rare but not unheard-of complication.

"It's uncommon, but it's not so uncommon that we don't know how to treat it," he said.

The ulcer was biopsied and is benign, he said. "If there were any concerns, the operation would have been a different operation."

Former President George H.W. Bush was with his wife, Reardon said. "They're very affectionate to each other. I hope my marriage is that good, that far into it. He's got a very positive attitude."

The mother of President George W. Bush, Barbara Bush was first lady from 1989 to 1993.


Born Barbara Pierce in New York in 1925, she married her husband in 1945. She is a distant cousin of Franklin Pierce, who served as president from 1853 to 1857.

She and the former president split their time between Houston and Kennebunkport, Maine.
 

Yanuck

Well-known member
My husband met the Bush Sr's when he was running the first time, he had the chance to spend an hour or so visiting with Mrs. Bush while George talked to the press. In his words "one of the nicest ladies you'll ever meet anywhere"
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
reader (the Second) said:
I like her but I think she's not as nice a person as she appears based on some unfortunate remarks caught on television. Or maybe she's way more cut off from reality than I thought.

Regardless, she's quite something and I hope she recovers quickly and fully. That's a very dangerous thing at age 83.

Did she make some comment about "typical white person" or about people "clinging to their guns and religion"?
 

Mrs.Greg

Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
reader (the Second) said:
I like her but I think she's not as nice a person as she appears based on some unfortunate remarks caught on television. Or maybe she's way more cut off from reality than I thought.

Regardless, she's quite something and I hope she recovers quickly and fully. That's a very dangerous thing at age 83.

Did she make some comment about "typical white person" or about people "clinging to their guns and religion"?
You sure don't have any room to talk about OT's bashing of Bush...your as bad with Obama...but more annoying!!


I like Barbara Bush,she should do Ok,I've seen ladies a lot older come out of a lot worse
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
Mrs.Greg said:
Sandhusker said:
reader (the Second) said:
I like her but I think she's not as nice a person as she appears based on some unfortunate remarks caught on television. Or maybe she's way more cut off from reality than I thought.

Regardless, she's quite something and I hope she recovers quickly and fully. That's a very dangerous thing at age 83.

Did she make some comment about "typical white person" or about people "clinging to their guns and religion"?
You sure don't have any room to talk about OT's bashing of Bush...your as bad with Obama...but more annoying!!


I like Barbara Bush,she should do Ok,I've seen ladies a lot older come out of a lot worse

What have I ever said about Obama that was incorrect?
 

badaxemoo

Well-known member
Sandhusker said:
Mrs.Greg said:
Sandhusker said:
Did she make some comment about "typical white person" or about people "clinging to their guns and religion"?
You sure don't have any room to talk about OT's bashing of Bush...your as bad with Obama...but more annoying!!


I like Barbara Bush,she should do Ok,I've seen ladies a lot older come out of a lot worse

What have I ever said about Obama that was incorrect?

Well, let's see.

I believe you've stated approximately 1124 times that he is a "Kenyan Socialist".
 

aplusmnt

Well-known member
Mrs.Greg said:
You sure don't have any room to talk about OT's bashing of Bush...your as bad with Obama...but more annoying!!

Now now, lets not be selling OT short on his ability to annoy! :wink:
 
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