strange mysql_pconnect return value

Hi, In PHP3 mysql_connect and mysql_pconnect used to return an integer indicating connection ID. Now they return something that returns 'Resource id #xxx" when printed and "unknown type" as the result of gettype. What is it and how do I get an integer from it? Casting and settype doesn't work, neither does substr. I was using it to create temporary tables. I've switched to uniqid() but this is far less elegant because now i need to drop the temp tables after use and then create them again instead of just emptying and leaving them for next pconnect to pick them up again. Any ideas? Thanks.