Heartworm questions

A couple people have asked about me! Woo-hoo! But naturally they have questions about the heartworm treatment, so here is my schedule for those who are interested and to show everyone why the preventative is the best way to go. You don't want to go through this:

1) Day 1 (6/30) Immiticide shot near my spine (owie)

2) Day 2 (7/1) Immiticide shot on the other side of my spine (Double owie, I've still got a bump on my back)

3) 4 weeks rest period at home (during die-off period of adult heartworms). Perl still refuses to peel grapes for me.

4) Day 30 (8/1) vet revisit for entire day - microfilaria treatment (to kill juvenile worms) by oral medication; some dogs react badly so I have to be monitored at the vets that day (and miss couch-snuggling and smashed taters)

5) Day 45 (8/15) heartworm blood test; if clear then I can start on the preventative so I don't get heartworm again! (This heartworm is for the birds, I can tell you.) I will need to be on this the rest of my life - as all dogs in this area should be, we live in a heartworm high-risk area. FYI it costs about $1 month to pay for one of the beagles' preventatives, just so you know for your budget. It certainly costs less than the heartworm treatment and putting your dog through it.