…editing the user_edits.php file? I hate to keep doing it over again when upgrading wordpress.

You mean editing the CORE file in /wp-admin/user_edits.php?

If So, as the adage goes, don’t modify core files (unless you know what you are doing in there and are aware of the limitations and drawbacks this imposes). Modifications can cause:
– you will lose all changes when you next update the WordPress,
– security risks,
– performance degradation,
– broken plugins/themes, etc.

Therefore, if there are no hook present in a function you want to modify, it’s better to copy the function you need and change it in your Child Theme or plugin, rather than modifying the core files directly.