Washington  - Former first lady Barbara Bush, 83, was recovering from surgery to repair and seal a perforated ulcer, CNN reported late Wednesday

Bush, who is also the mother of current United States President George W Bush, was hospitalized in Houston, Texas, Tuesday night after she complained of severe abdominal pain.

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

"She declared this was the worst pain she ever had, many times worse than childbirth," Reardon told reporters.

Bush had a perforated ulcer in her duodenum, which doctors repaired and sealed. They said the ulcer was benign. Bush was likely to remain in hospital for at least 24 to 48 hours. (dpa)