It's not a silly question!
I had no issue in cadaver lab, mainly because I was so engrossed in it that it wasn't an issue (the coolness/interesting factor quickly takes over). We had a few people who would have to sit down on occasion, and had a few people pass out (oddly enough not until third trimester after we had finished with the cadavers and were just looking at/reviewing certain things on the spine, which was the first lab we had in the fall). Our prof says that every year there's a few fainters, sometimes people have to leave the room to get air, etc. Just tell your lab mates you're worried about it, so if you sit down or have to leave the room they know to not freak out, but also to check on you if necessary.
I'm fine with blood and all that - my main issue is with vomit. I have a huge case of emetophobia, both doing it myself and seeing others/being around others who are. It's not so much an issue except in acute care with pain killers...when I was observing I had to leave the room when a patient started throwing up. I asked a CI on these forums if that would be an issue when I do my first clinical in a hospital, and she said to let my CI know. She said she had had other people with that issue, but that you do get desensitized to it some respect, and more importantly when these people are in your care your mothering (or fathering) instinct takes over and you want to help them, just like if you had kids and they're sick. I still don't buy that, but then again I haven't been in that place
Our profs also said that since PTs are the first to get patients "up and moving" after procedures/illnesses, etc., and many of the meds they're on makes patients constipated, sometimes we can get them "moving" too much, so that can be something we have to deal with etc.
I guess the big picture is if you have a weak stomach, acute care is probably not the place for you. But you'll only have to do a 6-8 week clinical there (depending on your program and if you can get it for your shortest clinical), and then you don't need to worry about it anymore...a weak stomach wouldn't be an issue in outpatient ortho, unless you have a patient with a crazy injury, or you go to observe a surgery (which no one will make you do - although I've done it and it's really awesome).
Hope that helps!
