Kenjhee,

I have had quite a few MRI's. Besides the noise, I struggle with claustrophobia. The easiest way to deal with the small tunnel is to never touch it and even better to never see it.

Once they have you set up with the detector coil over your head, close your eyes and pull your arms in and cross them comfortably. This will prevent your elbows from feeling the sides of the tunnel.

Now, relax and imagine being in an open area such as a field of flowers or any pleasant image.

I have lived with claustrophobia for decades and this always works for me.

The ear plugs they often offer are not the best because they are easy to insert. The yellow cylindrical foam plugs work the best for me. Twist them tight and insert them deep so you can just barely grab them.

Relax and let the noise fade into the background of your imagination if you can.