ALBANY – Governor Pataki could be out of action for a week to 10 days after having his appendix removed yesterday morning, said the surgeon who cut it out after the Republican checked himself into the hospital complaining of abdominal pain.

But less than 10 hours after the surgery, Libby Pataki told an afternoon news conference at the hospital that her husband was already joking around and even working in his hospital room.

“He’s telling the nurses, ‘Don’t let anyone bring flowers, I prefer dark chocolate,'” Mrs. Pataki said.

“The governor is doing fine. He’s in good spirits,” the senior attending surgeon at the Hudson Valley Hospital Center just outside Peekskill in Westchester County, Dr. Wiji Ratnathicam, said.

The surgeon said Mr. Pataki, 60, was tired – “he’s been up all night” – and was being given pain medication.

Dr. Ratnathicam said that while Mr. Pataki’s appendix had experienced an “early rupture” before surgery, there was no spread of contamination into his abdominal cavity. He said Mr. Pataki would likely be discharged on Saturday.

Mr. Pataki’s spokesman, David Catalfamo, said the “early rupture” meant the appendix had developed a “slight perforation” before surgery.

Mr. Pataki, the nation’s senior governor, is eyeing a run for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination. He announced in July that he would not seek a fourth, four-year term this year.

Wishes for a speedy recovery, and promises of some get-well goodies, began to flow almost immediately from fellow politicians.

President Bush telephoned and the two chatted briefly, Mrs. Pataki said.

“Governor, if you are watching, our thoughts are with you and we do plan to send you a bottle of good New York State wine so that you can, when you feel a little bit better over the weekend, sit back and relax,” Mayor Bloomberg told reporters in New York City. He later called Mr. Pataki at the hospital.