I think it is quite normal for Access to take a while for you to see the table. Sometimes you have to click on another object say Queries and then back on Tables to refresh but I don't think it means the table does not exist yet.
So refreshing the database window is a fine trick allowing you to see the table appear. But as I said the table is probably already there you just don't see it.
Here is a function to test for the table (even if you don't see it)
Public Function TableExists(Name As String) As Boolean
TableExists = DCount("*", "MSysObjects", "Name = '" & Name & "' AND Type = 1")
End Function
Which means you can already relate to the table even if you cannot see it.