Politics | 11/26/2008 11:20 am

Barbara Bush Has Surgery, Won't Be Released From Hospital Quite Yet

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Barbara Bush – the 83-year-old former First Lady who was rushed to the hospital Tuesday for “a little bit of pain” — may have to eat Jello and processed microwave chicken piccata, instead of turkey and cranberry sauce, for a few more nights.

Bush has been undergoing tests at Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center since she was admitted Tuesday. She was experiencing some abdominal pain for a few days before seeking medical attention. It was thought she could go home today, but now it looks like she may have to stay put until early next week.

NBC News is reporting that she had emergency surgery overnight for a perforated ulcer around midnght, after doctors went in to see what could be ailing her. They found a one-centimenter hole in her stomach caused by the ulcer. They closed it by using laproscopic surgery. These types of ulcers can be serious but NBC News reported that there were no complications. ABC News earlier reported that Bush had "a procedure" overnight.

"I’m thankful for the fact that my mother is doing well," the current President Bush said today while pardoning two Thanksgiving turkeys, Pumpkin and Pecan (one of which was in an undisclosed location), who he said he has assured "will not be trotting to their finish."

Bush family spokesman Jim McGrath earlier said Barbara Bush may have to stay at least throughout the day Wednesday. All reports say her condition is nothing serious.

"Fortunately, it looks like it’s going to be a small matter," McGrath told The Houston Chronicle.

Former President George H.W. Bush, 84, drove his wife to the hospital around dinnertime Tuesday, but she was well enough to walk on her own. George Bush — her husband of more than 60 years — stayed with her overnight. Doctors expect her to be home for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Current First Lady Laura Bush told ABC’s "Good Morning America" today: "She’s doing great. George and I talked to both President Bush and Barbara Bush last night while they were in the hospital and they were both doing very well then.” The White House doctor also spoke with Barbara Bush’s doctor Wednesday morning, Laura Bush added, "and she’s doing very well and so we’re really, really thankful."

While she was in the White House, Barbara Bush suffered from an overactive thyroid ailment known as Graves’ disease, which causes teary eyes and double vision.

Get well, Mrs. Bush. Keep those spirits high.

Read more about: Abdominal Pain, Barbara Bush, George Bush, hospital, Houston, News, Politics, U.S.

13 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Yes Mrs. Bush, Well wishes for a speedy recovery!

By HA BIBI on 11/26/2008 11:52 am

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Good luck Barbara Bush, you’re in great hands with Houston doctors. Take care and have a healthy holiday.

By Sandbee (FB) 54 on 11/26/2008 1:01 pm

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She’s a lucky lady, especially at her age..these types of ulcers can be fatal if not attended to in a timely fashion.

By Diana T on 11/26/2008 1:44 pm

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Diana, My mother is tiny and last December she had a perforated ulcer and emergency surgery. Wound up in ICU for a month and then in a step-down unit for two months….was frail as a result and took almost the entire last year to recover, she lost a lot of weight she didn’t need to lose. The doctors said that over the age of 60-70 (she’s 78) it’s a 50-50 chance of survival. She was in very good shape before it happened, but the Prednisone she was taking was what they said caused it.

By Delete This on 11/26/2008 1:58 pm

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I had a stomach bleed years ago when I was on Naprosyn(an ibuprofen type of Rx), and I wasn’t taking it with food. Thing is, I never was in pain. It never hurt, but my blood count dropped dramatically, that’s for sure…

By Diana T on 11/26/2008 2:19 pm

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Surgery of any type at her age is never a good thing, I’m sure the country has her in their prayers as she endures this unfortunate turn of events.

By Belinda Joy on 11/26/2008 7:28 pm

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I wonder if BB was on prednisone for the Graves disease. Years ago I heard she was not doing well with it.

By Flora Dora on 11/26/2008 10:30 pm

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Get well Mrs Bush, but then we know you do have the best of care. This is nothing to mess with. Get well and stay well.

By Jeannot Kensinger on 11/27/2008 7:03 am

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A perforated ulcer is definitely a major, life-threatening illness…If you don’t succom to blood loss, peritonitis, and septicemia (toxic shock from infection) can occur. Even when one comes out of surgery, they must be watched for ensuing infection, and other secondary effects, such as renal insufficiency or failure. Even though I am on the opposite side of the political fence, I wish Mrs. Bush a speedy and complete recovery. You will be in my prayers, Mrs. Bush!

By Melanie Waldrop on 11/27/2008 4:49 pm

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I wish her a speedy recovery… but honestly, sometimes I wish we weren’t into all the medical details of political figures (and celebrities) lives. Forever burned into my memory - Jimmy Carter’s hemorrhoid surgery and Ronald Reagan’s polyps. Is this data really appropriate for public consumption… and at all pertinent?

By Buh- Bye on 11/29/2008 8:45 pm

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I am sorry, Alias, if my description of Mrs. Bush’s illness offended you or anyone else. I was just flabbergasted that the above article would even insinuate that the fact that Mrs. Bush cannot go home yet is at all suprising or unusual…She’s just been through a MAJOR ordeal, and has a long road to recovery ahead, especially in light of her age. As for my descriptions, I thought they were rather tame (I have been a nurse for 23 years…the last 20 of these I have been a CRNA doing anesthesia for major trauma, cardiac, neurosurgery, etc….As anyone who knows someone in this profession can attest, we sometimes forget about others’ ‘non-medical sensitivities/sensibilities, as most ANYTHING is fit dinner conversation for us!), mea culpa!

By Melanie Waldrop on 11/30/2008 11:09 am

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I wasn’t responding to you or remarking on your post, Melanie. I was responding to the article. No mea culpa required at all!!! :) My post was, well, directly more at the public’s hunger for invasive information. The media seems to be constantly into stuff that really is none of our business. There’s no dignity anymore. And sadly, the info seems to be used for other means. I mean, the way Obama supporters used McCain’s medical condition as fodder to defeat him just turned my stomach. Every human being is physically fallible. I disliked the McCain deathwatch drummed up by that campaign. I dislike the current Patrick Swayze deathwatch smeared across the covers of the National Enquirer. I can’t stand it that we are subjected to people’s traumatic 911 calls on the nightly news. There’s no sense of propriety anymore. Just MHO. It’s one thing if a person shares info. It’s quite another when the press and paparazzi and operatives are digging through trash cans, and paying off medical staff or personal assistants for inside info. I dunno, maybe I am a bit of a Luddite on this issue. Give me time. Who knows, in another 6 months I too may have a blog where I post every single mundane moment of my life. Thrilling the vast blogosphere with reports on ingrown toenails, intermittent gas, the length of my roots, the fascinating details of my colonoscopy, etc… hey… wait a minute… aren’t I doing that already on WOW?!

By Buh- Bye on 11/30/2008 3:30 pm

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Well, like it or not, the physical well-being of candidates for public office/sitting officials (certainly the office of the presidency) is important for the public to be aware of…as is the health of officials who are in office. Of course, when I say health, I mean that ‘everything is relative’…i.e. hemorrhoids and endoscopies are not of the same import as, say heart disease. As far as other celebrities are concerned (including former public officials) I guess we just have to chalk it up to something for journalists/paparazzi to write about on slow news days! This news about Mrs. Bush is ,however (back to that relativity thing), important because this illness could have (and could still) kill her…I sincerly hope not, though. So I (and others of the praying kind) should/will continue to keep her in my thoughts and prayers.

By Melanie Waldrop on 11/30/2008 8:49 pm