For context I'm 37 and had a baby last year. Since then these symptoms have become way more noticeable. I probably experienced them to an extent before but nowhere near as strong. I wondered if anyone else has symptoms like this and how you've been able to control them a bit.
So towards the final days of my period I feel great. Refreshed, energised, productive, happy. All good. As I move towards ovulation I get super horny (no surprise there) and start to feel really affectionate and borderline needy towards dh. It varies between months but sometimes I really am incredibly horny and sexually frustrated for a few days. I also get a lot of physical signs of ovulation such as painful cramps and bloating along with a lot of EWCM.
After that the next two weeks until my next period are shit. I get tired, lethargic, I eat like a pig and become irritated by everyone especially dh. The poor man doesn't know if he's coming or going sometimes! I also tend to get IBS flare ups at this time which I'm not sure if it's a coincidence but it does always tend to happen around or after ovulation.
In some ways it's good to understand my cycle and why I'm feeling a certain way. On the other hand it's becoming really hard to overcome some of these feelings, especially the eating and irritability. Is this normal? Is it something that intensifies with age or after having a baby? Has anyone else experienced similar? The first half of the cycle is great but I'm sick of feeling fat and grumpy for half of the month too.