Ovulation question and symptoms

Hi! I am new to this app. Seems like a good place to get info from others TTC so I figured I would ask a question. Maybe I can get some insight. 
So I'm supposed to ovulate on May 8 (tomorrow). I'm known to have very painful, horrible cramping etc during my ovulation time.  (I've always been like this - it was a relief when I was pregnant with my first!!). Anyway, so I was expecting to ovulate tomorrow but for some weird reason, I had my severe, horrible cramping this past Sunday (May 4)  it totally caught me off guard. I have always been regular with my cycle. 
My question is, is it possible to have ovulation symptoms a few days before you actually ovulate? I've never had to use an ovulation test before because I have always been so regular and could always tell by the way my body acted. But now I'm having second thoughts.
​Has this ever happened to anyone else? Anyone have some insight? TIA :)