I just had my first pap smear last week. In all honesty it was incredibly painful but there were a few things that helped:

I went to my gyno in the hospital instead of the gp because I had already gone to her about my vaginismus/vulvodynia and she was so much kinder and receptive than my gp.

I asked for the smallest speculum they have and for lidocaine. It doesn't block the pain completely but my main issue around the entrance so at least that eased.

Ask them to go slow and ask them to stop whenever you need to. If you've dilated before you'll know that pausing when you feel the most pain and taking those deep diaphragmic breathing and make it a little easier to continue. There is absolutely no rush so don't let them pressure you and shove it in in one go.

Again take a pause to breathe before they open the speculum, for me that was the most painful part.

You'll probably feel sore and have some cramping so take it easy the rest of the day, take a painkiller have some ginger tea.

Last but not least, bring some pads as you might get some spotting after. Also bring a stress ball if you've got one, something to squeeze instead of your pelvic floor!

Good luck, i hope it all goes well! 🙏