Woman feels vibrations near fan and washing machine; doctor links it to a common deficiency

Nutritional deficiency is common in women. But have you ever heard of getting vibrations and buzz when near electrical appliances? Sounds strange, right?

Dr Sudhir Kumar, popularly known as the hyderabaddoctor on social media has shared a strange case. A 40-year-old woman walked into the clinic with a bizarre complaint: she could feel vibrations pulsing through her body whenever she was near fans, washing machines, or other electrical appliances.

And it wasn’t a one-off thing—she had been experiencing this strange sensation for nearly six months. She’d already seen multiple doctors, tried various medications, but nothing seemed to help. Her symptoms were often brushed aside, leaving her frustrated and anxious.

When her case was reviewed in detail, things started to make sense. Her symptoms pointed to peripheral neuropathy (nerve involvement in hands and feet) and restless legs syndrome (RLS)—both conditions that can cause odd sensations in the body. A few blood tests were ordered, and the results revealed the real culprits: vitamin B12 and iron deficiencies.

Yes, that’s right—something as basic as a vitamin shortfall can wreak serious havoc on your nervous system.

The sensation of “vibrating” or an internal tremor, while it may sound odd, is actually not uncommon. It’s what doctors call a functional symptom—where anxiety, stress, or hyper-awareness of bodily sensations can amplify what you're feeling. In this case, the proximity to electrical appliances might have acted as a psychological trigger, not an actual cause of the vibration.

The good news? She was started on vitamin B12 and iron supplements, along with a healthy dose of reassurance that she wasn’t suffering from a serious neurological disease. Vitamin B12 is basically fuel for your nervous system. It helps make red blood cells, keeps your brain sharp, and plays a key role in nerve health. When you're low on B12, your nerves start misfiring. That can lead to weird, creepy sensations—like tingling, numbness, or even that bizarre vibrating feeling this woman experienced. Some people describe it as feeling like a phone buzzing inside their body. It’s unsettling, but very real. Iron is crucial for making hemoglobin, the stuff in your blood that carries oxygen. Without enough iron, your muscles, brain, and nerves basically go into low-power mode. Iron deficiency doesn’t always scream for attention, but it can sneak up with symptoms like constant tiredness, pale skin or dark circles under the eyes, shortness of breath, hair thinning or brittle nails and strange cravings (like chewing ice or clay—yep, that’s a real thing).

In the case of the woman, the combo of B12 and iron deficiency was likely affecting her nerves and sleep. And because the brain was already in a hyper-sensitive state (thanks to tired nerves and anxiety), it started associating certain environments—like being near buzzing appliances—with those sensations. The result? A feedback loop of stress and symptoms.

▶️Young woman felt vibrations in the whole body, when near electrical appliances- Associated with a common deficiency

➡️40-year old woman reported feeling a sense of vibrations affecting various parts of body, when she was near electrical appliances (such as fans or washing… pic.twitter.com/PMp9hqGyIU

— Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (@hyderabaddoctor) May 21, 2025

"Will keep you updated, when she reviews after a month or so," Dr Kumar has posted on social media.