What is it about being sick?

Last weekend I had a cold and laryngitis, and I hit C2 with reasonable resonance and volume. Now I am well, and it takes a good warmup just to hit Eb2. What is it about being sick that allows me to go so much further down, and more importantly, what techniques or exercises do I need to employ to be able to do that when I'm well? I mean, I've proven I have the physical ability, so why am I no longer able to sing that low?

Any vocalists who've learned about this that can chime in would be great.

My only guess would be that when you're sick, your muscles relax and cannot be tensed as much (or as easily) as when you're healthy. Thus, when your vocal chords relax, your voice tends to sound lower.

But I am not a doctor and that's only a guess. You should ask an ORL (or whatever you call them in english) about the effects of being sick/having a cold on your vocal chords.

I doubt you'd be able to sing very vigorously, though, being sick.. But that's up to you :P

I doubt you'd be able to sing very vigorously, though, being sick.. But that's up to you :P

Well, that was the thing - my higher range vanished, but my sub-low range was in full force, sounded nice, wasn't too much effort to get to...but now it's like, I can imply or "growl" those notes but not get that lovely tone I had while under the weather.

It's just frustrating cause I was like "hell yeah I'm a legitimate BASS now instead of just a bass-baritone" but it was only temporary; sadface is me.

On A General Day I Can Hit The D2, But When Im Sick I Can Usually Hit Down To The B-Bb, My Friend Jeremy Can Hit The G1 when he tries, he is amazing with his vocal range.

yeah i noticed that when i got sick.. REALLY sick, i could sing a whole octave lower with good tone and volume, and even lower still but it didn't sound great. Like juji said I think it's cause your muscles are relaxed.

but at the same time, i think they are always tensed up, because after a few days I was sore all over and someone said it's because when you get sick your muscles tense up. so i don't know.