MRI

Yes you go on feet first. I was very worried about the same. You will like face down like on a massage bed. It's very noisy but it didn't feel claustrophobic. They asked how I wanted the room temperature and I opted for cool rather than hearing on. 

You will have a "panic button" and although there is no one in the room with you they can see you and talk to you at all times.

Good luck with everything 

Hi Italia, I haven’t had an MRI for mastectomy purposes but I did tell my consultants I was claustrophobic and they sent a request to my GP for diazepam which really did help so perhaps ask your consultant or GP if you can have something?. I also made sure I told the doctors when I got there I was claustrophobic and needed to go feet first just in case! 
if you do go in lying on your back then keep your eyes closed until it’s all finished, that helped me! 
good luck!

Hi italia welcome to the forum and sorry to hear how worried that you are but I can completely empathise because I was exactly the same.

I saw my GP who gave me a  couple of diazepam to take, one the night before and one of the actual day, because like you I am claustrophobic as well..  It worked and you just need to focus on the music they will play into the earphones for you and to take big deep breathes if you do feel panicky. You will go in feet first and the hardest part that I found was the pressure on your ribs from having  to lie in a certain position and not move, that is  challenging for me as I'm a fidget, but managed it. It can take up to 45 minutes but keep your eyes closed and just focus on the music and the breathing and  it will be all over before you know it. They may put a dye in as thats what I had so just in case they decide to do that and then you know it is possible.

Sending some hugs your way for now. xx

Thank you all for your advice and support. I thought I’d update now the MRI has been done.

lit wasn’t half as bad as I’d psyched myself up for. I was laid on my tummy on a frame which supported my chest area and my face. I could look down on a tilted mirror and see who was talking to me. I had a panic button in my hand, which I didn’t need to use. The procedure took about 40 minutes and was very, very noisy. I wasn’t offered music, and frankly it would have had to be so loud to be heard over the machine, it’s probably just as well. 
i had a needle fitted in a vein in my wrist and part way through they pumped in a contrast liquid. They explained that adverse reactions to this were incredibly rare but I signed a consent form first.

staying still for over half an hour isn’t easy at the best of times and was quite uncomfortable but I never felt claustrophobic. In fact I wasn’t even aware of when I was in the tube or not.

all in all not a very pleasant experience but not too bad either. I’m glad it’s over and if I ever have to have another one I won’t be so worried.

I should add that my experience was in Italy and it may be different in the U.K. but for anyone else waiting to have an MRI, don’t stress, take yourself to a nice place in your head and it’ll soon be over.