My MRI took around 20 min. After they put the cage on I kept my eyes closed the whole time and concentrated on my breathing. In my head I was saying in with the good air, out with the bad air. I didnt open my eyes until they took the cage off. Im very clausterphobic but it went ok. I didnt take a sedative so not sure about that part. Good luck with yours. You can do this! Just think of something to keep repeating the whole time, it helped me.

I've had my share of brain and head MRI's, and body ones. I consider them a nuisance, but I actually can relax during the noise. I incorporate it into music in my head or just background noise.
First, Never EVER open your eyes during one because it CAN freak you out. I just imagine I'm lying on a bed and relaxing with some background noise haha.
And then I think of happy things...blue skies, green pastures, pretty stuff :) I sometimes even use the extra time to pray in thanksgiving.
No one ever offered to give me any meds beforehand, I just lie down and go in!
Only those MRIs with contrast do they inject a dye that heats up your body temporarily, but that's not a med. Its just to enhance certain areas of the image.

Go in calmly and try to just relax. Its noisy, but painless. And if you are still nervous about it, ask your doctor if you can take something before, as others have suggested.

Good luck
love,
Zoes

All of the advice the others have shared, is great. How long it takes depends on the machine they use, because some are older than others. Take the medication 💊 one and a half hours before, and then a half pill right before you start the MRI. The tecs are great and if you tell them that you need a little extra TLC and support, they will give it to you. When I had mine, I also closed my eyes before I went into the machine, and thought about open blue skies. They also blow cool air inside, which is soothing too. Don't open your eyes until you are completely out when it's done. They usally give you a device to hold in your hand to connect to the technician. They also can hear you all during the procedure. Knowledge is the best thing for anxiety, so ask the tech for any information that you need to make this a better experience for you. Also go on line and read about the procedure, step by step. Get lots of blankets and make sure that the earplugs are pushed into your ears really good. You are strong because you live with fibro, so you will be fine.

I have had several MRI's over the years. They will give you a pill to take about 30 minutes before you get there to start. Most of the times I close my eyes and leave them closed while in there. Secondly some turn on what kind of music you like to listen too. Just take a deep breath when you go in take a deep breathe.

I had a mri brain scan last year which was the first mri I'd ever had. I was absolutely dreading it as I'm asthmatic chlostrophobic and an extremely anxious person and always have been about far less things than having this so worked myself up so much! I have to say I was put at ease upon going into to scanner room I made them aware of how anxious I was but was very attentively eased into the correct positioning ect talking things through with me. Yes I had something put on my head which came over my face area but it wasn't right down onto my face plus it had see through side bits and top which actually I could see the lady in the other room working the scanner ect taking the images which I found myself concentrating on for a couple of seconds and then closing my eyes! Yes it was noisey banging knocking ect but had headphones on and really wasn't as bad as I anticipated at all. They do it in stages going through how long each one is going to take and reassuring you that you are doing fine and before you know it yiu are all finished. I have to say I am the world's worst for working myself up for various things plus like I said I have a huge fear of confined spaces ect but it was nowhere near as bad as I'd convinced myself it was going to be! 👍💕