So I think my first question is answered. You don't lose voting power just by performing the operation of refreshing your own page. However when you do that, you become aware of the phenomenon of losing voting power because you are more aware of your own stats. Do I understand this correctly?
Now onto the part I'm still confused about. You're describing dilution, which I've read about in other posts. I totally don't understand it. How is it that more votes can hurt you? Is there an article here where that is explained? Or can you explain it here for me? Thanks!
EDIT: Rereading your reply I realize you are talking strictly about one's own voting power, and how it goes down when you vote too much. I think I understand that part. Do you know anything about the part where too many votes on a post hurt it? I've actually voted on posts and watched their "value" decrease following my vote. That's the part I don't understand, and I think it's what others have referred to as dilution. Can you please speak to that?