I have had a rattely cough and common cold since Feb.1. I woke up yesterday with NO voice!

Anon,

Alison is absolutely right. You need to get yourself to a doctor, ASAP, to get checked out. You need to be sure that your cold is not turning into a respiratory infection that needs antibiotics.

A doctor can also give you medicine for your lungs in the form of an inhaler if that is what will help you heal the most quickly. It's not just a matter of cough syrup or warm tea with lemon in it (though the latter helps soothe your voice a lot! try it!). It's a matter of breathing in deeply enough to sing, having control of your breath, AND having the full use of your voice box, without hoarseness or raspy-ness.

Will you go? And come back and update us?

And good lucky on the singing competition!!!

You could be better within a few weeks if you go to the doctor! The common cold is caused by a virus, that can cause coughing and other symptoms (like losing your voice).

Losing your voice after a cold and cough could simply be laryngitis or pharyngitis (both easy to treat), and if you go to the doctor to get a diagnosis, these conditions (or other condition you may have) could be treated and remedied within a few weeks.