Barbara Bush leaves hospital

(CNN) - Former first lady Barbara Bush is feeling "much, much better," former President George H.W. Bush said Tuesday, just before his wife was discharged from a Houston hospital.

"She was in extraordinary agony" before undergoing surgery a week ago for a perforated ulcer, the former president said at a brief news conference at The Methodist Hospital. He referred to his 83-year-old wife as "the silver fox," and apologized that she couldn't be at his side.

Her surgeon, Dr. Pat Reardon, told reporters his patient is on a liquid diet, but should be able to have regular food in a week or so - nothing spicy, however. She will be on antacids as a preventive treatment, he said.

"She is in excellent condition. She has all normal labs and all normal vital signs. She is quite vigorous," the doctor added. "She comes from good stock."