False table doesn't exist error

I have written an application that uses the BDE to access Oracle
tables.  At times, an attempt to access a table produces a false error
from the BDE.  Although the table exists, a call to a BDE function
produces a "table does not exist" error value.  Usually this error is
generated when the application has manipulated relatively many tables or
the app is running from within the IDE.
   I have a sense that I am running out of some resource, but I don't
know what it might be?  Any leads would be appreciated.