Dej, looking at the tube might have been your whole problem.
I have issues too. Once they lay me down, my eyes stay closed until they tell me to sit up. Not once do I open them. I DO NOT want to see any part of that darn machine.
I do get anxiety issues while in there. I tell them not to tell me how long any or all of it will take; I breathe deeply, esp when I get panicky; I pray to God and ask for peace, and remember some passages from the gospel that seem to help me calm down. But it is always touch and go. And my neuro wants the MRIs from a 3 tesla, since they're more specific...which means no open MRI...
The main reason I can keep from going overboard is that I don't want DH to have to take the day off to drive me. So I stay sane for his sake.
I wonder if putting my arms above my head would make me feel as if I have a bit more room in there?

DO NOT put your arms above your head, unless you are having your tummy scanned. its PAINFUL! after 10 minutes it is not too bad, but after 20 they burn and shake. After 30 its a begging fest for them to let you out. I did it because they were scanning my tummy.

Im happy they have drugs and someone who isnt afraid to push them at me.

I DO understand your fear. Fortunately for myself...they give me TONS of
meds and I get in...like its a big party. I hope everything works out and
you sleep like a baby.

I once had an mri on my foot. They explained over and over I was only
going in to my knees. As soon as the machine started moving and I was
heading for the hole...I flipped! I didnt even have to go in and they had
to sedate me. So I do understand and am wishing you peace filled
days until its over.

Oh lucky me...I get to have an MRI of the thoracic spine...so we'll see how my plan works...
Dej, do whatever you have to do to get through it...you are wonderful...

I am taking the chicken little way out this time. I normally pep talk myself and try to calm myself and sob my way thru it, but im tired of having a stiff upper lip. I tried very hard to NOT have this MRI, but they insist. I say if there are no changes this time it will be a long long time before they get another. I am not drug seeking, and I am not looking for a day of a legal high, I really dont want to go there, so if they demand I get in the tube, they can just knock me out please.

Dej - I can relate to how you feel. Luckily for me, 0.5 mg of lorazepam works wonders. However, one time I was so nervous I took 2 of them. I started to fall asleep and kept jerking (as I normally do in my sleep). They had a hard time getting the "pictures" and we're going to have me come back another day. They finally got it. Phew!

From now until then, try to self talk you way through the anxiety you are feeling right now. Things like, I've been through this before. People do this everyday. It's only temporary and only a short time out of my day. Things like that. It does help keep it in perspective. Also, come on here and keep posting and talking it through as we are all here to help you through this and will be cheering you on.

Dej - I had to put down my chicken soup to type a lol. Come on now.
Anyway, i'd love to teach you how to make 3d models (like my avatar) from mri, ct, pet whatever.

Do you know if they're doing a "thin slice"? That's needed for smooth 3d models otherwise it'll have steps. Mine's thin slice.

You're funny Dej

A valium and a blindfold help me with the claustrophobia . . . but imagine laying in that tube, of course flat on your back, when that position causes bowel urgency! By the time they get enough padding for me so this problem is lessened, I can't move! I tell them each time I have an MRI done that there is every chance I will need to escape the tube, and quickly . . . or the repercussions could be dreadful. I don't look forward to them for this reason.

wow left, I feel for ya in that situation. I know sometimes my anxiety can cause diarrhea or loose stools, but its not a functional issue, its an emotional issue.

Laying on my back HURTS! i have old fractures of L4 and L5 and even tho they use those blocks under my knees it still sets off painful waves of spasms. I have gastroparesis so laying me flat causes my stomach contents (even 12 hours past a meal) to rush up my throat and into my mouth, and I feel like I am choking and cant swallow properly. When you choke, you automatically want to sit bolt upright. I am prone to nasty head aches when i lay flat without neck support as well. They have huge pillows they can shove under my neck, or ones that are way too small to be effective. So, between the mouth full of vomit, the stomach cramps from anxiety, and the back ache followed by the blinding headache I am a wreck. I havent even mentioned the anxiety yet. I think part of it is that I will choke to death or inhale it before they can get to me.

I really hate this stupid disease!

OMGosh! Dej, this is where your anxiety is coming from. I would be a wreck too. Did you explain all this to the neuro? He/she may have another solution for you. I could see where being knocked out would be less stressful for you. Plus, if I remember right, you had a bad experience when you were in the tube once before - although extremely rare. So add ALL this together and MRI's are definitely a difficult thing for you.

BTW - I can't remember who mentioned putting something over there eyes but . . .There is no freaking way I could ever do that while in the tube. That makes it worse for me. I do ask them to put the mirror on so that when I open my eyes and look I can see out and see that humans are there. (Of course, the time I took too much lorazepam I saw ghost dogs moving around on the screens in the techs room.) Also, for me, I like it when they tell me how much time. Like a minute is a drop in the hat. I can do that. Plus, it helps me keep track of how much time I have left in there. I can get the brain and cervical spine done in no more than 40 minutes so I can start subtracting in my mind if the lorazepam hasn't hit me too hard. It keeps my mind busy.