Though I don't grow many succulents, in my experience, the shriveling is always due to dehydration, not over-watering. Root/stem rot will be typically seen when you constantly overwater or have a water-retentive potting media.
drdawg (Dr. Kenneth Ramsey)
The reason it's so hard to lose weight when you get up in age is because your body and your fat have become good friends.
