HOUSTON -- Former first lady Barbara Bush was "resting comfortably" Wednesday in a Houston hospital following laparoscopic surgery for a perforated ulcer, a family spokesman told KPRC Local 2.

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Bush, who was visiting with family members, probably will remain in Methodist Hospital until next week, family spokesman Jim McGrath said.

The surgery, a minimally invasive procedure involving a small incision in the abdomen, was Tuesday night. Surgeons cleansed her abdominal area and closed a 1-centimeter hole caused by the ulcer, McGrath said.

She was being treated in the intensive care unit, which is routine for that surgery.

"If not treated properly, a person could lose their life from this problem. When they're properly treated, we don't expect that outcome," said Dr. Pat Reardon, Mrs. Bush's surgeon. "Mrs. Bush had severe abdominal pain. She declared this was the worst pain she ever had, many times worse than childbirth. Anyone listening who has those kinds of symptoms needs to go to the nearest emergency room."

Reardon said the pain was below her rib cage.

"She experienced pain across her entire upper abdomen initially, and then by the time she got down here, she said, 'Hey, it hurts in the bottom, too.' That's because she was upright on the trip down here. And acid comes out and runs by gravity down to the pelvis," Reardon said.

McGrath said Mrs. Bush went to Methodist Hospital as a precaution Tuesday night.

"She's America's grandmother and she doesn't want people making a fuss out of it," McGrath said. "They nipped it in the bud immediately. We're glad they got it taken care of because it could have developed into a serious situation. We're looking forward to getting her out of there in a couple of days."

Former President George H.W. Bush has been at her bedside.

"I spoke with the president a couple of hours ago and he's in a good humor. He's very happy she's doing as well as she is," McGrath said. "She's going to resume her usual hectic pace when she gets out. In the meantime, she'll focus on getting better, getting rest and healing after a small, little procedure."

Mrs. Bush will spend Thanksgiving in the hospital, where she is on a liquid diet.

"We don't want you to extend your stomach or fill it. For that reason, she's not allowed to eat. And for that reason alone, she would require hospitalization," Reardon said.

She will remain in ICU for at least another day. Doctors described Mrs. Bush as awake and alert.

"First thing she did when her lips worked was tell a joke. I don't know if I can say if she was conscious, but she told a joke," Reardon said.

Doctors said the ulcer was a side effect of one of her medications.

Current first lady Laura Bush, Barbara Bush's daughter-in-law, said Wednesday: "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."

Interviewed on ABC's "Good Morning America," Laura Bush said the White House doctor had spoken to Barbara Bush's doctor Wednesday morning and "she's doing very well."

Barbara Bush is 83.

The former Barbara Pierce, daughter of the publisher of McCall's magazine, married George H.W. Bush in January 1945 when he returned a hero from World War II.

She was the girl who, swept off her feet by a handsome Navy aviator, dropped out of college to marry him, "the first man I ever kissed."

They had had their first child, George, while still at Yale in 1946. A daughter, Robin, died in 1953 of leukemia a few weeks before her 4th birthday. The other Bush children are sons Jeb, Neil and Marvin, and daughter Dorothy.

Mrs. Bush disclosed she was suffering from an overactive thyroid ailment known as Graves' disease when she lived at the White House. The disease causes teary eyes and double vision in Mrs. Bush, according to her doctors.

Full Statement From Bush Family Spokesman

"Former First Lady Barbara Bush was admitted to The Methodist Hospital in Houston Tuesday with abdominal pains. As a result, she underwent routine, laparoscopic surgery Tuesday night to correct a perforated ulcer. She was resting comfortably Wednesday morning, and visiting with her family.

"During the procedure last night, surgeons cleansed her abdominal area, then patched and closed a one-centimeter hole in Mrs. Bush’s stomach, caused by the ulcer.

"Mrs. Bush is expected to be discharged from the hospital next week."