@willing First, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! This is a great place to "talk" to others who have been down similar health paths, and share experiences.

I am Stage 4 in my CKD journey, now showing a eGFR of 22. There are many reasons as a cause of kidney disease, and it is important to understand the root cause. Mine is an ultra-rare kidney disease, where collagen is blocking the filtering components of my kidneys, effectively shutting them down slowly. Two main causes of kidney disease are high blood pressure issues, and diabetes. Life style choices, long-term drug interaction, and congenital issues like polycystic kidney disease are others. Do you know what the cause of your kidney disease is?

If the dr you are working with is not a nephrologist, I suggest getting to one as soon as you can. Because kidney disease can be silent, and not deteriorate quickly, some medical professionals brush it off. If you have a large teaching hospital or university hospital near you, check them out for a good nephrologist. As @m1miller said, you will be working with one the rest of your life.
Ginger