You may not know Thessy Kouzoukas by name, but perhaps you’ve heard of her brand instead.
As the co-founder and co-owner of the wildly successful fashion label Sabo Skirt, Kouzoukas’ Instagram feed is littered with crafty outfits, perfect selfies and Instagram-worthy accessories.
But among the curated images is a photo of a different kind.
Kouzoukas stands in front of a mirror, naked if not for a couple of black stripes, her body on display, but not the kind we are used to. The image is a composite photo, one where her stomach has a noticeable bulge, the other where it doesn’t.
“This is quite shocking to people. This is me. This is endometriosis. I never intended to share these photos hence why I’m naked, but my god I can’t believe the amount of [direct messages] I’ve received from girls who have endo too and feel alone. The left is my stomach three weeks after a ruptured cyst (five weeks ago). The right is me now, on a drug called Synarel that has stopped all my hormones and sent me into menopause at the age of 27,” she writes.
“My upcoming trip to Greece along with this drug is in hopes to get me prepped and in the best condition both physically and mentally for an operation I’m receiving in late August. Endo is no joke. I’ll be operated on for seven + hours and hospitalised for a week.
“Please, spread the word about endo. And If you know anyone with bad period pain PLEASE tell them to get checked for this. And to my girls with endo…you’re not alone.”
In an interview with Mamamia, Kouzoukas explained she was diagnosed with endometriosis nearly three years ago now.
“I was diagnosed in October 2014 after a laparoscopy confirmed I have severe endometriosis and had an 8cm cyst removed from my ovary.
“When the doctor told the drug I was being administered, Synarel, would temporarily send me into menopause, I laughed out of shock. It’s only for 10 weeks to hopefully reduce my current inflammation around the disease before my operation in August.”
For now, the drug, which brings about treatment-induced menopause, hopes to prepare Kouzoukas’s body before her mammoth operation.
“The operation in August will be a seven hour procedure to remove the current endometriosis scarring, lesions and adhesions from basically everywhere in my lower abdomen. I also have webbing and adhesions between my organs that require a delicate separation process. I’m hoping the operation results in a pain-free lifestyle and increase my fertility,” she says.
In the meantime, she hopes this message reaches far and wide. After all, not all period pain is made equal, and not all cases of menopause come with age.
How Endometriosis manifests and affects lives:
Top Comments
I don't understand why Mamamia always chooses misleading headlines. This woman is spreading awareness about endo and unless you read right through to the end you are mislead to think she is going through permanent menopause. Defeats the purpose of what this woman is trying to share.