Me, too. I had to go through multiple MRIs years ago when I had a bone infection in my leg. Since then, I dread having another affliction down the road that requires me to get into that damn thing again.
I hear you. People who do not have claustrophobia have a hard time understanding our anxiety.
Request the OPEN MRI...so much better. The noise gets me worse than the enclosed space and having to lie on a degenerative spine. OR that torn Rotator Cuff.