[gchappel]

Yes MRI can be claustrophobic, loud, "uncomfortable" but it is SOOOO much better than the other older alternatives. You don't hear about "exploratory surgery" much anymore. The need for having catheters and wires fed through your blood vessels for diagnostic/non therapeutic studies has also markedly decreased.
If my choice is lying still in a loud small tube or getting cut open for exploratory surgery- I sure know which one I would do.
I have had multiple MRI. Do I enjoy them- nope. But as long as something is not physically causing me pain, I can get through it.
I actually think if I put a comfortable couch in a dim room- and the medical exam was to sit still on the couch for 20 minutes- a sizeable percentage of patients would not be able to tolerate it.
To me it is simply not that big of a deal. Close your eyes, and get it over with.
gary