What can I do to reduce the pain? Is taking a few ibuprofen before I go going to work? Or do I need to look into some sort of topical cream?
All of the laser/electrolysis places I've been to offer some kind of EMLA cream or similar. The non-prescription-strength kind is not that strong but it does make a very noticeable difference, especially when you need to make it through longer sessions. You can also see if a doctor will prescribe you something stronger. Usually you let it sit on your face for 30 to 60 minutes immediately before your session (all of the places I've gone to expected this and they let you come in early to put it on).
You can take some ibuprofen or whatever like 20 minutes before the session, but it doesn't help very much. If you can get some vicodin or something, that'd probably do it. Don't drive afterwards though.
Also, make sure you're very well hydrated and don't have any caffeine for a few days leading up to your session. Dehydrated hair follicles are less conductive and require more intense (i.e. more painful) treatment to kill.
Also they said they want me to do an hour every week with them and that it will still take years to get it all. Does that seem normal? I'm not sure I can afford to spend that much every month.
Depending on your hair density and how fast your electrologist is, it will probably take between 50 and 500 hours to complete. Obviously if you only do an hour a week it will take 50 weeks minimum. If you have average-ish hair density and your electrologist is competent and uses blend or thermolysis you will probably be in the 100- to 300-hour range for complete clearing. (Thermolysis is fastest, galvanic is slowest, blend is in between.)
I usually do 3- or 4-hour sessions every 1 to 3 weeks, depending on my schedule and regrowth patterns. It is super expensive ($100 an hour at my current place), but I've got the rest of my life to pay off debts I guess; being semi-happy with myself while I'm young is more important.
How negatively would it effect my results to do every 1.5 or 2 weeks instead?
It won't affect the results, it will just take longer. After you've been going for a while (a few dozen hours) you will probably have to wait a while anyway because the dormant hairs will take that long to grow back in.