Up the Down Escalator

Medicine, Motherhood, and Multiple Sclerosis

By: Lisa Doggett

Narrated by: Lisa Doggett

A memoir of triumph in the face of a terrifying diagnosis, Up the Down Escalator recounts Dr. Lisa Doggett's startling shift from doctor to patient, as she learns to live with multiple sclerosis while running a clinic for uninsured patients in central Austin....

Facing the prospect of a career-ending disability as she adjusts to life with multiple sclerosis, Dr. Lisa Doggett is forced to deal with a new level of uncertainty and vulnerability, and the everyday fear that something new will go wrong. Taking off her white coat—becoming a patient herself—she confronts unimaginable fears, copes with her limitations, and sidesteps her skepticism of alternative medicine to seek help from unlikely sources.

MS pushes Doggett—a perfectionist at heart—to embrace self-compassion. As a patient, she learns to advocate for herself to ensure on-time medication deliveries and satisfactory treatment plans; to navigate chronic dizziness, relapses, and parenting frustrations; and to push her physical limits as a runner to go farther than ever before.

This hopeful and uplifting book will encourage those living with chronic disease, and those supporting them, to power forward with courage and grace.

©2023 Lisa Doggett (P)2023 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

An encouraging story of determination, growth and hope!

Wonderfully read by the author, highly recommend! Thank you Lisa for sharing your story. I learned so much!

The author was very honest and open about her lived experience

I loved the details about her patients and the window into the difficulties of being a physician/patient in America in the 21st century.

Beautifully written

While I do not have MS, Lisa’s story is so relatable. As a nurse, mother and one with a chronic condition her story touched me in so many ways. I have had similar experiences with the health system, feeling at times inadequate at parenting and in my career yet we persevere for those we love and for ourself. This book is a great reminder to never give up, keep setting goals and continue to work towards them, as well as be thankful for the things we take for granted every day. Life is a gift.

I experienced so many emotions reading this book- anger, sorrow, happiness… that’s when you know it’s a great book.

Relatable to a variety of readers

This is a book about grit, determination, connection, advocacy, and perseverance. I related to the story on multiple levels: as a parent, as a physician, as a person who works with vulnerable populations, and as person who has to navigate our often frustrating and inequitable healthcare system. It can be read one chapter at a time without feeling like you are being left hanging or can be read several chapters at a stretch. With audiobooks the narrator can make or break the story and in this case the author does a great job of narrating her own tale. She is a gifted storyteller; her inflection, tone, cadence are all such that you want to keep listening. I sometimes found myself staying in my car for a few extra minutes once I reached my destination just to keep listening.

Compelling memoir

I loved this memoir and particularly the audio version, which the author performed. It is touching, funny, heartbreaking, inspiring and comforting. I would recommend this book particularly to mothers, particularly those who work outside the home; people confronting challenges, specifically uncertain symptoms or intimidating diagnoses, and runners. I’m not a doctor myself but found myself enjoying the stories of patient care and learned more about the dysfunctional health care system too. Highly recommend!